ABSTRACT

Objective:

The clinic types of onychomycosis can change according to causative agents. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical type and isolated agent, and the age and sex of onychomycosis patients who admitted to our clinic

Method:

110 patients who admitted to Ege University Medical Faculty, Department of Dermatology with onychomycosis diagnosed on clinical and mycological findings, were included in the study. Nail findings were distal-lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO), proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO), total dystrophic onychomycosis (TDO), white superficial onychomycosis (WSO) and candidal onychomycosis. Direct microscopic examination and cultures were performed with nail scrapings specimens. Toenail and fingernail results were recorded separately.

Results:

The ages of the 110 patients [(48 male (43.6%), 62 female (56.4%)] who enrolled the study were between 14-87 (50,61±13.34) years. Onychomycosis was localised in toenail in 96 (87.3%) and fingernail in 14 (12.7%) patients. The most frequently seen clinical types of onychomycosis were DLSO (61.5%) and TDO (28,4%). The most common isolated agents were Trichophyton rubrum (62.5%) in toenail and Candida albicans (71.4%) in fingernail. The relationship between isolated agent and localization was statistically significant (p=0,001). In addition Trichophyton rubrum (61.2%) and Candida albicans (34.3%) in DLSO; Trichophyton rubrum (54.8%) and Candida albicans (32.3%) in TDO and, Trichophyton rubrum (50%), Candida albicans (33.3%) in WSO were isolated. There was no relationship between clinical type and isolated agent (p=0,136).

Conclusion:

The most common clinical type of onychomycosis was found to be DLSO and the most common isolated agent was Trichophyton rubrum in toenail and Candida albicans in fingernail scrapings. There was no relationship between clinical type and isolated agent.