Prevalence, clinical features, and diagnostic methods of dermatophyte skin infection in Korea

Abstract

Cutaneous dermatophyte infections, dermatophytosis, are common worldwide, affectingvarious age groups and body parts. Despite advancements in antifungal therapies, theprevalence of dermatophytosis continues to increase, posing significant challenges fordiagnosis and treatment. This review provides an overview of the prevalence, clinical features,and diagnostic methods for dermatophytosis in Korea. A comprehensive review of domesticreports and research on dermatophytosis in Korea was conducted using data from KoreaMed. This study covers the various clinical presentations, age distributions, seasonal trends, andtypes of dermatophytes identified in different body areas. Dermatophytosis in Korea haveshown changing patterns in terms of prevalence and causative species. Trichophyton rubrumremains the most common causative organism, with varying presentations dependingon the site of infection, such as tinea pedis, tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea faciei, andonychomycosis. Diagnostic practices largely depend on the potassium hydroxide smeartest, which has limited sensitivity, particularly for onychomycosis. Recent trends indicate anincrease in the incidence of dermatophytosis among older adults, which may be linked tounderlying health conditions and lifestyle changes. Dermatophytosis in Korea exhibit diverseclinical manifestations influenced by factors such as patient age, body site, and seasonalvariation. Improved diagnostic methods are needed to enhance the accuracy and guideappropriate treatment, especially with the emergence of antifungal-resistant strains. Thisreview aims to provide a better understanding of the current state of dermatophytosis inKorea and contribute to more effective management and prevention strategies