Prevalence of Fungi Skin Infections Among Individuals with Skin
Lessions in Enugu East Community
Ugwu Perpetua Nkemdiri, Udeani. T.K.C, Didam Jonathan Glory & Anolaba Cordelia Ifeyinwa
Department of Medical Microbiology University Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku Ozalla Enugu
Department of Medical Microbiology University of Nigeria Nsukka Enugu
Depatment of Medical Microbiology Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola
Received: 07 November 2025; Accepted: 14 November 2025; Published: 27 November 2025
ABSTRACT
Superficial and cutaneous skin infections constitutes a major public health challenge globally. These fungal skin
infections normally cause dis-figuration of skin, finger and toe nails. The goal of this study was to determine the
occurrence and risk factors among children, adolescents and adults in rural dwellers of Enugu East local
government Area , Enugu Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled individuals with skin lesions
in any part of the body. The pupils and adolescents were recruited from primary and secondary schools while
the adults were recruited from churches and primary health care clinics. Skin scrapping were collected from the
various part of the body, head, finger and toe nails and affected hair strands. The samples were analysed
mycologically using sabouraud dextrose agar and corn meal agar with actidione. A total of 211 persons with
skin lesions were analysed. They comprised of 42.7% (90/211) pupils; 33.2% (70/211) adolescents and 24.1%
(51/211) adults. The mean age of the pupils, adolescents and adults were 6.9 ± 1.68, 12.29 ± 2.3 and 29.53 ± 8.6
year olds respectively. The prevalence rate of fungal isolates from pupils, adolescents and adults were 36.97%,
30.8% and 21.8% respectively. Among the pupils and adolescents, tinea capitis and tinea corporis at a frequency
of 13.2% and 7.9%, were prevalent, while tinea unguium 6.3% was more among the adults. The fungal agents
isolated comprised majorly of 19.0% Trichophyton soudanense, 11.4% Trichophyton rubrum, 10.9%
Microsporum audounii and 6.6% Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Both Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus
and Malasessia furfur were obtained at prevalence rate of 6.6%, 5.7% and 1.4%. The high occurrence of fungal
skin infections among the different age groups remains public health problem. This is because these fungal
agents may penetrate dermis and induce systemic infections, and / or cause dis-figuration of the skin. It is hereby
suggested that health workers of the primary health centers be empowered to routinely educate the populace on
good hygiene practices.
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Fungal infection of the skin is a common public health problem globally with associated morbidity among
affected individuals (Olaide et al., 2014). Children are the epicentre of fungal skin infection due to associated
favourable predisposing factor predominant among them such as overcrowding, poor environmental and
personal hygiene. pre-pubertal factors, the on-set and late reporting to healthcare center, immigration, culture
and socioeconomic dispositions have great implication for the proliferation of dermatophytosis. (Olaide et al.,
2014, Ndako et al., 2012). Fungi skin infections can be classified into two broad categories namely; Superficial
skin infection (Superficial mycoses) and Cutaneous skin infections (Cutaneous mycoses) .
Pityriasis versicolor is a chronic superficial infection of the stratum corneum caused by Malassezia globosa,
Malassezia restricta, and other members of the Malassezia furfur complex (Thomas Mitchell, 2013). Although
the lipophilic yeast Malassezia is part of the normal cutaneous microflora of the skin in most warm blooded
vertebrate, they may become occasional pathogen when there is alteration in the skin microclimate architecture
or host defense occurs (Narain Gupta., 2016) The invasion of the cornified layers of skin illicit mild host immune
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