Epidemiology of tinea pedis and toenail tinea unguium in worshippers in the mosques in Adana, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dermatomycosis and the risk factors in those who perform their prayers in the mosques in the city center of Adana Province. The diagnosis of dermatomycosis was made on the basis of direct microscopy and/or culture in addition to clinical findings. Among 461 subjects, 136 (29.5%) had tinea pedis, 23 (5.0%) had tinea unguium, and 21 (4.5%) had both infections simultaneously, with a resulting total of 180 (39.0%) cases of dermatomycosis. The causative agents by frequency were: Trichophyton rubrum (67.0%), T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (31.1%), and Candida albicans (1.9%). The prevalence of the foot dermatomycosis was found to be high among those who practiced ablution 3-5 times a day and did not dry their feet immediately, who used rubber shoes, and/or who shared their shoes. Pedal dermatophyte infection seems to be a major problem among the adult Muslim male population regularly attending mosques especially in 5th and 6th decades of life.