Epidemiology of fungal infections in under-five-year-old children referred to fungal diagnostic laboratory of special clinic of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (1993-2011)‎

Background: Hygienic factors in under-five-year-old individuals play an important role in the public health conditions. Also, fungal diseases are very important and having enough information about the diversity and frequency of them in these ages deserves special
attention in health systems. The main goal of this study was investigating epidemiology of fungal infections in the infants under 5 years old in referred patients to medical mycology
laboratory in the special clinic of Kermanshah University of medical Sciences in 1993-2011.
Methods: All of the infant's ≤ 5 years old, referred to special clinic of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences for diagnosis of fungal diseases, were examined through direct microscopic examination and culture of samples. Data were analyzed and showed using descriptive tables and diagrams.
Results: Among 2370 studied samples, 936 people (39%) had fungal disease. Dermatophytosis was the most prevalent disease (%82). The highest rates of the disease were in the age groups of 4 to 5 years old (%25) while the least were seen in under one year olds (%13). The most and least cases were seen in the winter (%37) and summer (%17), respectively. The disease rate in the infants under 5 years old has decreased in the recent years. T. Verrucosum was the most species distinct (%40.3) and the least were T. Schoenleinii and A.Niger each having only one instance observed (%0.3). In the cases of dermatophytosis, the most and the least common locations of body infection were the head (%48) and the nail (%0.03), respectively.
Conclusion: Based upon the results, it is concluded that elevation of health information in people about fungal disease has resulted in its significant decrease in infants in recent years.