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Dermatophytoses are superficial infections that may lead to lesions of keratinized tissues, like skin, hair and nails. A total of 6068 individuals from Goiânia, GO, with suspected dermatophytic lesions were examined over a period of five years (1993-1997) in order to determine the incidence and etiology of dermatophytosis. Material collected from different body parts was submitted to direct microscopic examination using KOH, cultured in Sabouraud agar and microscopically examined for colony morphology, with the identification of 1595 dermatophytes. Trichophyton rubrum (37.4%), T. mentagrophytes (36.4%) and Microsporum canis (16%) were the species most frequently isolated. Dermatophytes were more frequently found producing lesions in the feet (30.5%), inguinal and crural regions (17.8%) and glabrous body regions (15.5%). The distribution of the different infected body sites was determined in terms of the respective etiologic agents found. Better hygiene conditions and an early diagnosis are the most important tools to control and reduce the incidence of dermatophytosis in Goiânia, GO.

There have been submitted to clinical exam in laboratory of dermatophytosis and inquired about possible contact with domestic animals (dogs and cats) 158 patients living in the urban area of Fortaleza, that showed lesions suspected of dermatophytosis. This search associated to the obtained data in questionnaires permitted us to identify the frequency of domicile outbreaks. Within the 83 people with dermatosis isolated of human infections, prevailed the anthropophilic species over the zoophilic ones, and that it was observed a confluence of human and animal diagnosis in 100% of the human dermatophytosis zoophilic cases, where the same species were identified in men and contacting animals: M. canis and T. mentagrophytes. As the patients carrying anthropophilic dermatophytosis varied as to the contact with animals, not having been these fungus isolated from none of the contacting animals. Before the low frequency of zoophilic dermatophytosis, it was considered that the intimacy of men with domestic dogs and cats represented was little as a conditional factor of occurrence of dermatophytosis in the urban environment.

Dermatophytoses have peculiar aspects in children, making them different from adult dermatophytoses. The author reviewed 139 of his personal cases to evidence these peculiarities; based on these cases he was able to discuss: a) clinical aspects of dermatophytoses and the frequency of each form in the child; b) analysis of the species of dermatophytes isolated in the 101 patients studied. The author adds a therapeutical orientation for cases of dermatophytosis in children.

The authors report 13 cases of tinea manuum and emphasize that this condition is not commonly described in the Brazilian medical literature. Eight males and five females, aged 18 to 72 years, presented an infection ranging from 1 month to 20 years. The main clinical picture was of desquamating type on the palms without fingernails lesions. All patients had associated dermatophytosis of the feet. Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum were the species isolated from the hands. The trichophytin test was positive in all cases and treatment with oral griseofulvin and topical clotrimazole and miconazole was rather effective. Clinical evaluation at the end of the treatment and afterwards did not show relapses.

42 patients suffering from dermatophytic fungus infection involving the bearded area, face and neck (tinea barbae) were seen in the Clinic between 1970 and 1977. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by microscopic examination (KOH) of skin and hair scrapings in all the patients. The material obtained from 39 patients and inoculated gave a positive culture; in were isolated and following fungi: T rubrum-18, T. mentagrophytes-16, T. megninii-1, T. violaceum-2, M. canis-2. From the clinical point of veiw it was possible to classify the patients in 3 main types: --Superficial type-11 patients. --Kerion-10 patients (T. mentagrophytes-9, M. canis-1). --Nodular type-deep seated nodules, without discharging, very slow evolution - 21 patients (T. mentagrophytes-4, T. rubrum-13, T. megninii-1, T. violaceum-1). It was obtained material for histology in 13 patients: 3 suffering from kerion and 10 with the nodular clinical type. The histology of the Kerion type showed a marked inflammatory reaction consisting largely of neutrophils surrounding the hair follicles. Only in one examination, out of the 3 patients studied with Kerion, showed fungi, on PAS. The 10 patients suffering from the nodular type of infection who were studied histologically showed a more or less uniform picture, which consisted in a more deep seated infiltration specially consisting of lymphocytes and plasmocytes, on the derme but not so perifollicular as in Kerion and, in 2 cases, there was a tendency to form a tuberculoid structure. The PAS was positive in 6 patients. The fungi were always intrafollicular. All the patients were treated with griseofulvin 1 gr. per day. All of them healed after a period of 4-8 weeks of treatment.