Impact of prurıtus on qualıty of lıfe in patıents wıth tinea

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine descriptively the impact of pruritus on quality of life in patients with tinea pedis. Methods: The study included 214 patients referring to dermatology outpatient clinic at Kayseri Research and Teaching Hospital between May 2016 and August 2016 with diagnosis of tinea pedis and meeting the inclusion criteria. Study data was collected by face to face interview with patients via survey form and Dermatological Quality of Life Index (DLQI) and Modified Pruritus Index (MPI) used by two interviewers. Results: Study included 95 females and 119males, in total 214 patients. Mean age was 45.6±16.42 years. In general mean score of subjects for both DLQI and MPI was 10.56±6.57 and 9.58±8.30, respectively. Mean DLQI and MPI score was higher in females, between age 50 and 59 years, in patients with disease for more than a year and in patients with diabetes mellitus. Mean DLQI and MPI score was increased with increasing number of disease-specific physical symptoms such as redness, pain, ache, burning and nail changes. Quality of life was negatively affected by increasing both level and severity of pruritus. Conclusion: Mean DLQI and MPI score is significantly higher in patients with physical symptoms specific to tinea pedis. Mean DLQI and MPI score is increased with increasing severity of pruritus and in turn, this negatively affects quality of life. Keywords: tinea pedis, pruritus, quality of life