Tinea genitalis in a rural tertiary care hospital of Western U.P. India

Introduction: Genital dermatophytosis is also known as tinea genitalis and pubogenital tinea, and it is one of the superficial fungal infections caused by dermatophytes. The classical clinical presentations in an immunocompetent person consist of an erythematous annular plaque with slightly raised scaly centrifugally advancing border and central clearing. The lesions in patients with HIV/AIDS or immunosuppressed individuals, can be extensive and without central clearing. Purpose: The present study was conducted to know the current scenario and possible mode of transmission of tinea genitalis in males and females and to isolate the causative dermatophyte. Materials and Methods: Patients with dermatophytic lesions in genital area and KOH, and/ or culture positive were enrolled in the study. Samples were collected from the active borders of the lesions after cleaning it with 70% ethyl alcohol and were inoculated on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA), supplemented with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide. None of the patients had any immunosuppression except 2 (0.72%) had diabetes mellitus and one (0.36%) patient gave history of atopy. Result: Out of a total 276 samples, 274 (99.27%) were Trichophyton interdigitale, and two male patients (0.72%) had tinea genitalis due to Trichophyton rubrum. History of use of topical steroid was present in 202 (73.18%) patients. Conclusion: Patients coming with tinea cruris should also be examined for the presence of tinea genitals, because according to our statistics 22.14% of them also had concomitant tinea genitals. History of having used topical corticosteroids should always be taken from them, because it results in extensive, atypical and extension of the lesions to the neighbouring anatomical sites.