EPIDERMOPHYTOSIS OF THE FEET AND EPIDERMOPHYTIDS OF THE HANDS

Abstract

There is no question in the minds of most dermatologists today that the hyphomycetes isolated from the dyshidrotic, intertriginous or vesiculopustular diseases of the feet are the etiologic agents. However, dermatologists are as yet not agreed about the pathogenesis of the dyshidrotic or squamous eruptions on the hands which are often seen at the same time, especially since many authors, such as Schramek, 1 Bloch, 2 von Graffenried, 3 Walthard, 4 Williams, 5 Alexander, 6 Rajka, 7 Keller, 8 Miescher 9 and Jadassohn and Peck, 10 have pointed out that the fungi are but seldom isolated from the lesions on the hands, while they are easily demonstrated in those on the feet. Among the fifty cases reported from the Zurich clinic (two by von Graffenried, 3 one by Walthard, 4 twenty-four by Jadassohn and Peck 10 and twenty-three new cases reported here) there were forty-eight in which the fungi were