Tinea Capitis
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Data on tinea discussed by researchers at Harvard University, Medical Department
2009 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to recent research from the United States, "Dermatophyte infections lead to high costs and differentially affect certain groups. Previous population studies have been limited in size, duration, and representativeness." "Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) (1995-2004), a cross-sectional analysis of ambulatory visits in the USA was performed. Outpatients presenting with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)-coded diagnoses of tinea unguium, tinea corporis/manuum, tinea pedis, tinea capitis, and tinea cruris were identified. Trends, descriptive epidemiology, and point prevalence estimates for these conditions were determined using stratification and standardization. There was an estimated average of 4,124,038 +/- 202,977 annual visits for dermatophytoses during the study period. Tinea unguium, tinea corporis, tinea pedis, tinea capitis, and tinea cruris represented 23.2%, 20.4%, 18.8%, 15.0%, and 8.4%, respectively, of such infections; 71.6% of tinea unguium visits occurred among those older than 45 years. Tinea capitis was significantly more common among the black than the white population (prevalence odds ratio = 12.4; 95% confidence interval, 9.9-15.7). Ineffective treatment of tinea pedis, tinea corporis, and tinea cruris with polyenes, such as nystatin, commonly occurred. Improved healthcare provider education is needed to ensure judicious antidermatophyte drug management," wrote A.A. Panackal and colleagues, Harvard University, Medical Department. The researchers concluded: "Further studies, including proven diagnoses via fungal microscopy and culture, are needed to explain the prevalence discrepancy of tinea capitis among black children and tinea unguium in older adults, focusing on preventable risk factors." Panackal and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Dermatology (Cutaneous fungal infections in the United States: Analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), 1995-2004. International Journal of Dermatology, 2009;48(7):704-712). For additional information, contact A.A. Panackal, Harvard University, School Medical, Dept. of Ambulatory Care & Prevention, MGH Institute Technology Assessment, 133 Brookline Avenue, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Dermatology is: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc., Commerce Place, 350 Main St., Malden 02148, MA, USA. Keywords: United States, Boston, Dermatology, Dermatomycoses, Epidemiology, Onychomycosis, Tinea Capitis, Tinea Pedis, Harvard University, Medical Department. This article was prepared by Disease Prevention Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Disease Prevention Week via NewsRx.com.
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