Clinical research
Prevalence of Pityriasis versicolor among diabetics in Basrah

Introduction: Pityriasis versicolor is a chronic superficial fungal infection of the skin, affecting the superficial layer of the stratum corneum, generally affecting the trunk or proximal parts of the extremities, caused by the yeast Malassezia furfur. The aim of study is the prevalence of Pityriasis versicolor among diabetics in Basrah.

Material and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done for the period of January to July 2007. In the first step we enrolled 100 consecutive patients with diabetes (including type 1 and type 2 diabetes) who were checked for Pityriasis versicolor clinically. In the second step 100 patients with proven Pityriasis versicolor were checked for diabetes.

Results: The mean age of the diabetic group was 58.81±12.62 vs. 33.4±14.03
(P value <0.001) with age range of 17-90 in the diabetic group vs. 12-90 in the control group. None of the diabetic group showed clinical evidence of Pityriasis versicolor and none of the Pityriasis versicolor group showed diabetes mellitus in the investigation.

Conclusions: This study may support the hypothesis that the only fungal skin infection that is not increased in frequency in diabetics is Pityriasis versicolor.