Epidemic of difficult-to-treat tinea in India: Current scenario, culprits, and curbing strategies

Abstract

Dermatophytes cause superficial skin infections of skin, nail, and hair known as dermatophytosis. It is commonly called as “ring worm” infection. There has been an emergence of an epidemic of recurrent and chronic dermatophytosis in India. Several reasons have been implicated that are related to the agent, host, and the treatment. Topical steroid misuse has been considered as an important contributor that has led to the persistence and atypicality of the infection. This article emphasizes on the salient features of the current dermatophyte epidemic to sensitize all physicians who treat the infections.

Keywords

• Chronic dermatophytosis
• recurrent dermatophytosis
• tinea
• topical steroid misuse