Superficial Cutaneous Mycoses in Korea

Kim, Ki Hong

Abstract

Superficial cutaneous mycosis is mycotic infection of the epidermis of the skin, and one of common dermatoses in Korea. They have close relationship between host (human) and fungi. Their clinical patterns and incidence, and their causative fungi may change with social environments and life patterns. Since 1945, GNP has been increased explosively, more than 243 folds, and economic developments brought abrupt changes of social environments and life patterns in Korea. Furthermore, there had been great social events during this period; Korean War in 1950-1953, the Asian Game in 1986, the Olympic Game in 1988 and the World Cup in 2002. Those events gave much chances for dermatophytes to move and change. Tinea pedis is the most common dermatophytosis and has been increased from 26% of all dermatophytosis in late 1950s to 40.9-42.2%. And tinea unguium(onychomycosis) has been increased as tinea pedis does; Its proportion was 2.8% in late 1950s, and 17% in 1990s. The patients with tinea pedis have high family infection rate and also have high coexisting dermatophytosis. The most common isolate was Trichophyton(T.) rubrum, followed by T. mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum. Tinea capitis showed the most dramatic changes; its incidence was the highest just after Korean war and decreased abruptly since 1970s. Microsporum(M.) ferrugineum was the most common isolates till 1970s, and abruptly decreased and now nearly disappeared. Trichophyton(T.) violaceum was isolated in Cheju island. After Korean war, T. schoenleinii was isolated from favus and is disappeared. M. canis was isolated for the first time in 1959 and has been the most common isolates since late 1970s. T. verrucosum was isolated in 1986, and T. tonsurans was isolated for the first time in 1995 and spread among wrestlers, Judo players and Korean wrestlers. It might be imported by wrestlers with sport exchanging program. In cidence of tinea cruris was dramatically changed and was 5% of all dermatophytosis in 1940s, and 26.6-39.1% in 1990s. Those changes might be related to change of life patterns. Proportion of cutaneous candidiasis among superficial cutaneous mycosis was 1.9% in 1960s, 6.7% in 1973, 14.6% in 1976-1985, and 7.4% in 1989-1992. Proportion of pityriasis versicolor among superficial cutaneous mycosis was 12.1% in 1973, 7.7% in 1976-1985, and 7.7% in 1989-1992. Research for Malassezia have been increasing since late 1990s and that will bring us many new informations.