CLINICAL PROFILE OF STEROID MIS USE IN TINEA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Steroid modied tinea is a dermatophytic infection with a modied clinical presentation due to previous treatment with
topical or systemic steroids.5 With use of combination creams containing potent steroids the clinical pattern of tinea lesions are obscuring and
presenting as eczematous variants.
OBJECTIVE OF STUDY: To evaluate the various clinical patterns and phenomenographic analysis of steroid modied tinea.
METHODS: A Cross sectional observational study comprising 60 clinically suspected cases of steroid modied tinea evaluated with the help of
predesigned proforma, complete clinical examination & Phenomenographic analysis is used in which patient own words or utterances are
recorded.
RESULTS: Out of 60 patients, 60% were males and 40% were females. Majority were from age group 25-30 years (33%). The commonest used
steroid formulation was a combination clobetasol, gentamicin ,clotrimazole, clioquinol and tolnaftate .Patients developed atypical presentations
like Pseudo imbricata (22 %) pustular lesions (10%) and eczematous lesions associated with erythematous striae in 10% who had used steroid
creams for more than 12 weeks. Most common phrase uttered by the patient was “I had skin lesions with itching, went to pharmacy and asked a
cream for which pharmacist told to use combination cream”.
CONCLUSION: Our study reinforces high prevalence in usage of different combination steroid creams for dermatophytic infections and their
over the Counter availability. Phenomenographic analysis in the form of patient own quotes helps us to get insight of usage of combination creams.