ABO BLOOD-GROUPS IN RELATION TO THE INFECTION-RATE OF DERMATOPHYTOSIS

The role of ABO blood groups in the carriage rate of dermatophytosis w as studied. Blood grouping was done for 108 culture-proven dermatophyt osis patients. Forty-nine patients belonged to blood group A, 54 to bl ood group O, three to blood group B and two to blood group AB. The inc idence of dermatophytosis was found to be high in patients of blood gr oup O and A. However, chronicity of the disease was more frequent in t hose in blood group A. The control group consisted of 100 healthy subj ects. Sixteen out of 29 control subjects belonging to blood group A ha d a history of skin infections. None of the O blood group control subj ects had a history of skin infections. Our study suggests that A blood group subjects may be prone to chronic dermatophytosis.