Relation between the intestinal flora and diaper dermatitis in infancy

In this study, 40 patients with diaper dermatitis and 20 healthy infants were investigated. Mycological and bacteriological cultures were obtained from affected and healthy skin areas and stool specimens. Candida albicans was isolated simultaneously in 37 out of 40 patients subjected to mycological examination of skin lesions and stool specimen cultures. Of 34 Gram-stained smears from the skin lesions, 27 revealed Candida in hyphal form. In the control group, C. albicans was not grown from the diaper area. No significant difference was observed in the growth of bacteria from the skin with or without lesions (p greater than 0.05). In conclusion, C. albicans-infection originating from the gastrointestinal tract, plays a major role in diaper dermatitis. Thus, a Gram-stained smear can be used as a practical method in early diagnosis.