A Brief Study on Genital Dermatophytosis

Abstract

Dermatophytes are a genus of keratinophilic fungi that commonly cause infections of the skin, hair, and nails. Based on their ecology, they are classified as anthropophilic, zoophilic, or geophilic. Superficial dermatophytic infection of the genital region is called genital dermatophytosis, tinea genitalis or pubo-genital dermatophytosis. In this review, we would like to discuss briefly, the various clinical presentation of genital dermatophytosis, current changes in the taxonomy and nomenclature, introduction of new diagnostic techniques and briefly about some common dermatophytes and their sources. Also, there are serious concerns associated with the recent development of antifungal resistance among the dermatophytes. We are also facing the scenario of difficult to treat dermatophytosis. The changing life style, frequent visits to health club, close-fitting synthetic garments, promiscuous culture, keeping small pets such as cats and dogs are the possible contributing factors leading to increased incidence of dermatophytosis.