Clinical Manifestations of Dermatophytoses and its Treatment: A Review

Abstract

Dermatophytes can invade the keratinized tissue and cause one of the most common fungal infections, dermatophytoses. Dermatophytoses are present worldwide and it is most common in warm climates. It is caused by dermatophytes that belong to the genera Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum. The clinical manifestation and clinical signs of these infections vary according to the infected body part and the specific dermatophytic species. According to the parts of the body that is affected, clinical manifestations of the dermatophytoses are categorized, such as tinea capitis (scalp), tinea barbae (beard area), tinea corporis (skin other than the bearded area, scalp, hands or feet), tinea cruris (groin and perineal areas), tinea pedis (feet), tinea manuum (hands), and tinea unguium (nails). Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum canis are the main etiological species for dermatophytoses in all over the world. In this review, we discuss the clinical manifestations of dermatophytoses, etiological agents and their treatment by using oral and topical antifungals.