PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR – POSSIBLE GENETIC BASIS, PROBABLE TRANSITION FROM COMMENSALISM TO PARASITISM AND THE IMPLICATION ON TREATMENT APPROACH

Abstract

Non-occurrence of Pityriasis versicolor (PV) in spouses of individuals with this superficial fungal infection despite several years of cohabitation suggests that heredity might play an important role in those affected. Forty subjects who were married were studied in two phases. The first phase involved using a detailed structured format to obtain information on the presence of PV in subjects, their spouses and siblings. In the second phase the family of an index case was studied over a 2-year period from a clinical and mycological aspect. Seventy percent of subjects interviewed in the first phase had at least one family member with PV. In the second phase, 4 other siblings of the index case studied all had PV. Of the 3 that were married (index case inclusive), 2 had PV but none of their spouses had. This study supports the role of heredity in individuals with PV.


Keywords: Pityriasis versicolor, Hereditary, Treatment


African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 139-147