CLINICAL EVALUATION OF PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR WITH DERMOSCOPY AND FUNGAL CULTURE

Pityriasis versicolor is an asymptomatic,superficial, chronic fungal infection caused by Malassezia species, affecting the stratum corneum layer of skin. The caustaive agent Malasseziacomprises of a group of superficial dimorphic fungi occurring as normal skinflora on the human body. Though generally associated with very mild superficialinfection, it is emerging as an opportunistic fungal pathogen inimmunocompromised patients. Even though there is disparity in geographicaldistribution of different species, not much data is available from our country.Hence this study is undertaken to know the clinical patterns with respect tomorphology and distribution, associated risk factors and to know thedistribution of different Malasseziaspecies in Piytriasis versicolor infection.

This study will include 115 patients of all age groups. Detailed history, Clinical examination along with woods lamp examination will be done. Following which KOH mount and Scrapings for fungal culture will be taken using aseptic precautions.

Fungal culture will be left to grow for 21 days in optimum temperature and growth will be recorded following which speciation will be done. Results will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.