Until recently, superficial dermatophytosis, also known as tinea, was considered as a minor skin infection, which was easy to treat. There used to be rare outbreaks and epidemics of superficial dermatophytosis. Lately, there is a sweeping change in the clinical presentation due to extensive, atypical and recalcitrant dermatophytosis. Treating such infections poses a great challenge to the clinicians. Dermatophytosis is a superficial fungal infection of keratinized tissue (skin, hairs and nails) by dermatophytes (fungus). It is caused by the three genera of dermatophytes: Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum. The conventional methods of laboratory diagnosis have now been substantiated by molecular characterization. Earlier epidemics were usually due to anthropophilic dermatophytes. Now, zoophilic dermatophytes are also responsible for many outbreaks and epidemics. We need to be equipped with the tools to face the current scenario, because this depends upon the competence of the staff working in the state-of-the-art laboratories, which is needed for the study of the epidemiology and appropriate treatment.

Introduction: Genital dermatophytosis is also known as tinea genitalis and pubogenital tinea, and it is one of the superficial fungal infections caused by dermatophytes. The classical clinical presentations in an immunocompetent person consist of an erythematous annular plaque with slightly raised scaly centrifugally advancing border and central clearing. The lesions in patients with HIV/AIDS or immunosuppressed individuals, can be extensive and without central clearing.Purpose: The present study was conducted to know the current scenario and possible mode of transmission of tinea genitalis in males and females and to isolate the causative dermatophyte. Materials and Methods: Patients with dermatophytic lesions in genital area and KOH, and/ or culture positive were enrolled in the study. Samples were collected from the active borders of the lesions after cleaning it with 70% ethyl alcohol and were inoculated on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA), supplemented with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide. None of the patients had any immunosuppression except 2 (0.72%) had diabetes mellitus and one (0.36%) patient gave history of atopy. Result: Out of a total 276 samples, 274 (99.27%) were Trichophyton interdigitale, and two male patients (0.72%) had tinea genitalis due to Trichophyton rubrum. History of use of topical steroid was present in 202 (73.18%) patients. Conclusion:Patients coming with tinea cruris should also be examined for the presence of tinea genitals, because according to our statistics 22.14% of them also had concomitant tinea genitals. History of having used topical corticosteroids should always be taken from them, because it results in extensive, atypical and extension of the lesions to the neighbouring anatomical sites.

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Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic fungi, which normally cause superficial infection of skin, hair and nails. Based on ecology, they are classified into three groups: anthropophilic, zoophilic and geophilic. Superficial dermatophytic infection of the genital region is called genital dermatophytosis, tinea genitalis or pubo-genital dermatophytosis. In this review, we would like to discuss briefly, the various clinical presentations of genital dermatophytosis, current changes in the taxonomy and nomenclature, introduction of new diagnostic techniques and briefly describe some common dermatophytes and their sources. Also, there are serious concerns associated with the recent development of antifungal resistance among the dermatophytes. We are also facing the scenario of hard-to-treat dermatophytosis.

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