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Onychomycosis in the Denver pediatrics population, a retrospective study

Lindsay S Young1, Harvey A Arbuckle, Joseph G Morelli

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine University of Colorado, Denver, ColoradoDepartment of Dermatology, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, ColoradoDepartment of Dermatology, School of Medicine University of Colorado, Denver, ColoradoDepartment of Pediatric Dermatology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.

Pediatric Dermatology
|May 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Onychomycosis (OM), a nail infection, is increasingly seen in children. This study found nearly half of pediatric nail complaints were OM, with Trichophyton rubrum as the main cause.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Onychomycosis (OM), a fungal nail infection, is traditionally considered rare in pediatric populations.
  • Recent international research indicates a growing prevalence of OM in children and adolescents.
  • Trichophyton rubrum is identified as the predominant fungal pathogen in pediatric cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of onychomycosis in children presenting with nail complaints.
  • To identify the most common causative pathogen in pediatric onychomycosis.
  • To analyze demographic and clinical features associated with pediatric onychomycosis.

Main Methods:

  • A 5-year retrospective chart review was conducted.
  • Data were collected from pediatric patients (<18 years) presenting to dermatology clinics at Children's Hospital Colorado and Denver Health Medical Center.
  • Nail complaints were analyzed for the presence and characteristics of onychomycosis.

Main Results:

  • Out of 141 patients with nail complaints, 66 (46.8%) were diagnosed with onychomycosis.
  • The highest prevalence of pediatric onychomycosis was observed in children aged 6 to 10 years.
  • Toenail involvement was more frequent than fingernail involvement, and Trichophyton rubrum was the most common pathogen identified.

Conclusions:

  • Onychomycosis is a significant cause of nail disorders in children presenting to dermatology clinics.
  • The findings support the trend of increasing pediatric onychomycosis, with specific age groups and pathogens identified.
  • Further research and clinical awareness are warranted for early diagnosis and management of fungal nail infections in children.

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