This article is written by: Dr Manjunath Shenoy, MD, DNB (Convener, Recalcitrant Tinea Task-force), Dr Madhu R, DCH, MD (Chairperson, Recalcitrant Tinea Task-force), Dr Ramesh Bhat, DVD, MD, DNB (National President), IADVL. Dermatophytosis or tinea infection, a common dermatological infection, is caused by fungal agents called dermatophytes belonging to the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum & Epidermophyton. Dermatophytes infect humans (anthropophilic), other mammals (zoophilic), or they may primarily be found in soil (geophilic).
They can invade the skin, hair and nail leading to pruritus, discolouration, brittleness of hair and nail dystrophy. Hot climate, overweight, tight-fitting clothes, sharing clothes and overcrowding are associated with increased chances of infection. Recently there has been an emergence of this infection in significantly high proportions in the dermatological…
