Epidemiological Survey of Tinea Pedis in Junior High School and High School Students in Kurume City, Japan

Abstract

Epidemiological survey of junior high school and high school students in Kurume city was conducted to determine the frequency of tinea pedis in Japanese teenager. The results of the survey showed that the frequency rate of all students (total: 1,068, male: 993, female: 75) was 1.97% (male: 2.10%, female: 0%). Most of cases were interdigital type. All isolates identified by morphological characteristics were Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Sequence analysis of fungal DNA revealed all isolates were Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale/Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii. The frequency rate of students in a dormitory was higher than that of day students. Although our study showed that the frequency rate of tinea pedis in Japanese teenager was relatively low, it is considered that tinea pedis should be treated aggressively to prevent transmissions in school life.