Abstract :
Onychomycosis, the commonest presentation of deformed nails is caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM) or yeast. Clinical presentation varies from onychodystrophy, subungual hyperkeratosis, onycholysis or discolouration of nail plate.
Objectives: Identification of the causative fungal organisms and to compare the clinical diagnosis with positivity of KOH examination and fungal culture.
Materials and Methods: 78 clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis were taken. After disinfecting the nails with 70% alcohol, KOH mount and fungal culture was done followed by LPCB mount.
Results: 44 patients had onychomycosis with 31-40 yrs (40.9%) as common age group and male preponderance (63.63%). Male:Female ratio 1.75:1. Toe nails (61.36%) were predominantly involved with Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (56.8%) as the most common presentation. KOH positivity (63.1%) was more than culture positivity (57.8%). Dermatophytes (54.54%) were the commonest group isolated followed by NDM (25%) and yeasts (20.45%). Trichophyton rubrum(31.81%) was the commonest among dermatophyteswhile among NDM, Fusarium spp (9.09%) was most common. Candida albicans (11.36%) was most common among yeasts.
Conclusion: Clinical diagnosis of onychomycosis should be confirmed both by KOH and fungal culture to prescribe species specific antifungal drugs for optimal outcome.
Keyword :
Onychomycosis, Dermatophytes, Non-dermatophyte moulds, Yeasts