Fungal Infections on the Rise in Karachi

KARACHI- Eminent Skin Specialist,   Dr Iqbal Nabi Soomro recently said fungal infection cases are on the rise throughout the Karachi due to lack of immunity, poor personnel hygiene and improper use of drugs.

Dr Iqbal Nabi, who is also Director of Institute of Skin Diseases, Sindh, Karachi, said fungal diseases (Tinea Corporis, Tinea cruris, Tinea Capitis, Candidiasis, Onycomycoses & Deep Mycoses) are a huge disease burden in our population and is growing at fast rate. He said major underlying factors include increasingly number of patients with diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, and lack of immunity, poor hygiene and improper use of medicines (lack of compliance).

He informed that despite limited resources, Dermatology Institute in Karachi has witnessed exponential growth in the number of patients and presently, catering 4,000 to 5,000 patients day that is over a million year.  “Most of the patients originate in Karachi but there is a growing population of patients being referred from interior Sindh and other parts of Pakistan.

He said all diagnostics and treatment facilities are available free of cost, while major drugs are also made available to the patients without any charge. He said 50 bedded Hospital served by 40 doctors, 75 paramedical staff and other administrative staff.

Dr Soomro  advised the  citizens to adopt healthy lifestyle habits in personnel life like use hygienic food, remain clean, take bath every day, use separate towel,  Instantly dry the body after bath,  dry sweating,  proper treatment of diabetes if diabetic, complete course of medicines advice by skin specialist to prevent from fungal infections or diseases.