Clinical and etiological aspects of intertrigos caused by fungal infections in Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire)

Epidemiology of these disorders, mainly caused by mycosis, is little known in the Ivory Coast. The aim of this study was to determine the different clinical aspects of intertrigos caused by fungal infections. We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Department of Clinical Dermatology at the University Hospital in Yopougon (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) from April to October 2012. The study involved the patients come to consultation with lesions in the folds suggesting a mycosis. Samples of serous fluid by swabbing or of scales by scrape cutting with the scalpel blade were performed at the level of the lesions. The fungal agents responsible for these lesions were identified after biological culture. A total of 200 patients had lesions suggesting intertrigo caused by fungal infection. The average age of patients was 29.8 years (with a standard deviation of 11.1 years). Mycosis-related intertrigos accounted for 6.7% of reasons for consultation. A female predominance was observed (76.7%). Lesions mainly occurred in the groin area (40.8%) and in the intergluteal clefts (36.9%). The most observed symptoms were maceration (52.4%) followed by burning (18.4%). In 89.3% of cases, intertrigos were caused by yeasts, including Candida albicans (33%), and Candida parapsilosis(19.4%) which were predominant. Mycosis-related intertrigos mainly affect the young adults of female sex. Lesions mainly occur at the level of the inguinal folds and intergluteal clefts. The main etiological agents are yeasts (Candida).