Caracterización de pacientes con onicomicosis en organizaciones campesinas de la provincia de Los Ríos, Ecuador

Introduction: Onychomycosis is the infection caused by pathogen or saprophyte fungi in the nail structure of hands or foot. Associated factors show differences according to the analyzed region. Therefore, the purpose if this study was to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of adult patients with onychomycosis diagnoses from the rural province of Los Ríos, Ecuador. Methodology: A descriptive, transversal study was performed in 384 adult patients diagnosed with onychomycosis in 3 health centers of the Vinces and Urdaneta counties in Los Rios province from May 2016 to May 2017. The Dermatology Life Quality Index was applied in which demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics were investigated. Results: Out of the studied subjects, 56.8% (n=218) were female; the mean age was 50.7±13.7. The age group 40-55 years old was the most prevalent (37.8%, n=145). In men, prevalence rose proportionally with age. 21.1% (n=81) of the sample had diabetes, the most affected body parts were the hands (50% n=192), especially in women (72.9%) (p<0.01). 76.5% of the subjects showed worry regarding the disease, especially women (84.4%) (p<0.01), and the majority also reported that onychomycosis had great influence over their daily lives (69.8%; n=268). Conclusion: Onychomycosis is a disease with a wide variety of risk factors, which must be taken into account for appropriate treatment, including the psychological effects that are usually ignored in primary attention.