Abstract:

Objective To estimate the performance of Wood′s lamp examination in the diagnosis of superficial cutaneous fungal infections. Methods Totally, 129 patients, who were diagnosed with superficial cutaneous fungal infections according to clinical medical history and signs, were enrolled in this study. Wood′s lamp examination of lesions was carried out. Cutaneous samples were obtained from the patients and subjected to microscopic examination and fungal culture. Results Wood′s lamp examination was positive in 84% and 85.7% of patients with tinea versicolor and malassezia folliculitis, respectively; among these patients positive for Wood′s lamp examination, 92.9% were positive for fungal culture, and 87.5% for microscopic examination. In patients clinically diagnosed with tinea manus and pedis, tinea corporis or tinea cruris, 8.3% were positive for Wood′s lamp examination, while 85.4% were positive for fungal examination. There was a high consistency between Wood′s lamp examination and fungal examination in patients with tinea versicolor and malassezia folliculitis, but not in those with tinea manus and pedis, tinea corporis or tinea cruris. Conclusions Wood′s lamp examination shows a high specificity and sensitivity and is useful in the diagnosis of tinea versicolor and malassezia folliculitis, but seems unapplicable for the diagnosis of tinea manus and pedis, tinea corporis or tinea cruris.