Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Dermatophytosis in A Tertiary Care Hospital, Bangladesh

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatophytes are the most common cause of superficial fungal infections in Bangladesh subcontinent and other tropical countries. Objective: The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is used to determine the quality of life of patients with chronic dermatophytosis. Methods & Materials: The present cross sectional, observational, case- controlled study was conducted in Department of Dermatology & Venereology, Mymensingh Medical College & Hospital, Mymensingh Bangladesh from January to December 2023. Total number of cases collected were 250, 130 controls were also included. Clinically diagnosed and KOH positive adult patients were included in study. All patients were asked to fill DLQI questionnaire in Bangla. Controls having disease for less than six months were also included. Data thus obtained was collected and tabulated.  Results: Total number of cases collected were 250, 130 controls were also included. In gender distribution, cases had 72.0% males and 28.0% female while controls had 63.1% males and 36.9% females. Mean DLQI of cases was 14.28±5.16 and controls was 11.56±3.60. DLQI distribution of cases -154(61.6%) had very large effect, 61(24.4%) had moderate effect, and 30(12.0%) had extremely large effect on DLQI. Domains of Symptoms and feelings (72.8%), work and school related activities (68.8%) and treatment related problems (67.6%) posed maximum impairment. The occurrence of lesions on both exposed and non-exposed sites and with increasing body surface area significantly increased the impairment of quality of life. Conclusion: In summary, superficial dermatophytoses affect the quality of life (QoL) of all patients, but chronic dermatophytoses cause significantly greater impairment of a person's QoL, with some patients experiencing extremely severe impairment of their QoL.