The frequency of Tinea Pedis in patients with Tinea Cruris

Abstract

The frequency of tinea pedis in patients with tinea cruris has not been elucidated. The main objective of this study is to define this frequency all patients referred to the Mycological Laboratory of Razi Hospital, Tehran, during a 3-month period in 1997, who had a positive KOH smear for dermatophyte in the groin area were included in the study. A culture from this site, and a smear and culture from the foot (regardless of the presence of any lesion), were performed. Sixty patients (46 males and 14 females) entered the study .Epidermophyton floccosum was the most frequent isolated fungus in tinea cruris. Four patients (6.4%) had concurrent tinea pedis proved by smear and culture; and the sole isolate form the foot, was Trichophyton mentagrophtes. In three of them, the corresponding dermatophyte in the groin was E. floccosum. In this study, the frequency of tinea pedis in patients with tinea cruris was low