A study of 3891 cases of mycoses in the tropics

4103 cases suspected of mycoses were analysed as to sex, age and site of disease and 3891 were proved cases. This group formed 50% of total mycoses or 13-93% of all dermatoses recorded in the Government General Hospital, Madras, during the period of study. There were 66-26% adult female, 27-6% adult male and 6-14% were below 13 years. Dermatophytoses were found in 73-5%; the other common diseases were tinea versicolor (17-68%) and candidiasis (12-43%). Multiple sites of involvement or more than 1 disease in the same individual were mostly observed. The incidence of piedra (0-1%) and deep mycoses (0-156%) was very low. Mycetoma was the common disease (5/6) in deep mycoses. In dermatophytoses, tinea corporis (49-71%) and tinea cruris (47-85%) commonest; tinea axillaris (3-42%), tinea capitis (1-72%) and tinea barbae (1-29%) were less common. The incidence of tinea manuum, tinea pedis and tinea unguium was similar (4-97%-6-38%). High temperature and humidity were related to the higher incidence of tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea versicolor. Mainly children suffered from tinea capitis. All other mycoses were commonly found in adults between 2nd and 3rd decades. In all mycoses but candidiasis, female predominated. Cutaneous candidiasis was mainly a problem of housewives. Among the dermatophytes Trichophyton violaceum was predominant (33-7%) followed by T. rubrum (32-6%). Trichophyton schoenleinii and M. gypseum were rarely isolated. From mycetoma, Madurella mycetomii, Nocardia braziliensis, N. asteroides and Actinomadura spp. were isolated. Demonstration of Cryptococcus laurentii in 1 case is reported in this area for the first time.