PREVALENCE OF DERMATOPHYTE INFECTION IN WELL-CONTROLLED DIABETICS ANDTHE RESPONSE TO TRICHOPHYTON ANTIGEN

The prevalence of dermatophyte infection was assessed in 100 patients with well-controlled insulin-dependent diabetes, and in a control grou p of 100 non-diabetics matched for age, sex, occupation and sporting a ctivity, Immediate and delayed responses to intradermal testing with T richophyton antigen were recorded in both groups, The overall infectio n rate (skin and nails) was 19% in diabetics and 17% in controls. Ther e was a higher infection rate in the skin of diabetics (17%) than in c ontrols (8%), but this was not significant. Nail infection was seen in 12% of diabetics and in 11% of controls. Intradermal testing with Tri chophyton antigen gave a higher proportion of both immediate and delay ed positive results in diabetics, However, more control patients showe d only an immediate positive response or only a delayed one. There was no evidence of an increased infection rate in those with immediate po sitive responses or of diminished infection rates in those with delaye d positive responses, and no correlation with oral Candida infection. These findings applied equally to diabetics and controls.