RADS-JPPS Vol 4 (1), June 2016, 184-187 184 Epidemiological Study Of Dermatophytosis In Okara, Pakistan Areeba Hussain, Shahbaz Ahmad Zakki, Rabia Qureshi Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Te University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. ABSTRACT A clinical study was carried out among patients with tinea infections in Okara during the year 2013-2014 with respect to age, gender and clinical presentation of the infection. A total number of 150 samples were collected from tinea infected patients out of which only 120 were found positive for Trichophyton spp and Microsporum spp and no Epidermophyton was observed. Among positive cases Trichophyton spp was most dominant (68.3%) followed by Microsporum spp. (38%). Te most efected age group was 0-10 years (40.8%). Male patients were infected more as compared to females and male to female ratio among positive cases was observed as 17:13. Rural community was observed to be most afected by the dermatophyte fungus. Tis study manifests the importance of correct mycological diagnosis for efective disease management. Keywords: Tinea. Dermatophytosis. Epidemiology. Fungal infections. Pakistan INTRODUCTION Dermatophytes are keratinolytic fungi which are able to degrade the keratin in tissues like skin, hair, nails etc. Majorly these fungi are natural decomposers found in soil which may not infect the living host necessarily. Excessive use of medicines and immunosuppressive drugs caused this rate to experience a signifcant rise by the second half of 20th century [1]. Dermatophyte infections are termed as tinea infections which have been classifed into three genera Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. Out of these three, Trichophyton and Microsporum species infect both humans and animals. Dermatological infections are a common problem especially in tropical and sub-tropical areas because humid and warm climate is perfect for fungal growth [2]. Among all the fungal infections up to 30% are dermatophytic infections [3]. In Pakistan most common specie is T. violaceum (41%), followed by T. rubrum (27%) [4]. Prevalence of Tinea pedis infections is 2.8% which is relatively Corresponding author: Hussain.areeba03@gmail.com low [5]. In northern Pakistan incidence of nail infection is 78%, skin 18.3% and hair 30.3%. Trichophyton interdigitale is the most common specie isolated and identifed from nail samples while Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the most commonly found specie in skin and nails [6]. Tough much documented data is not available but dermatophyte infections are most common in patients sufering from type 2 diabetes mellitus [7]. Also Trichophyton rubrum cause dermatological infections in HIV positive patients. However, no detailed data is available on study of dermatophytes in Pakistan. METHODS Te study was undertaken from November 2013 to July 2014 on patients visiting District headquarter Hospital, Okara in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Only those patients were selected as sample which had clear clinical symptoms judged by the clinician prior to antifungal therapy. Collection of samples 150 samples of skin, hair and nails were collected from patients. Infected area was