Fungal diseases formed an important entity in the recent times in tropical countries like India. The prevalence of dermatophytosis varies from place to place, but in tropical and subtropical countries it occurs in increase frequencies. The purpose of the study is to know the prevalence, causative agents of dermatophytosis and their mycological aspects in different clinical types of dermatophytosis in and around Guntur. A total of 125 clinically diagnosed cases of dermatophytosis attending the outpatient department of Dermatology and venereology, Tertiary care teaching Hospital, Guntur were studied. Skin scrappings, nail clippings and hair stubs were collected from infected patients and processed by potassium hydroxide preparation (KOH) for direct microscopy and culture using SDA with actidione. In our study highest incidence of dermatophytosis is seen in the age group of 21-30yrs, 46 (36.8%). Males were affected more frequently than females in ratio of 1.1:1. Ringworm infection was more common in people of low socioeconomic status.  Tinea capitis was more common in male children (80%).Tinea corporis and T.unguium were more common in females. T.cruris were common in males in the age group of 21 -30 yrs. Mixed infection with Tinea corporis and Tinea cruris were also prominent in this study. Out of 125 cases direct microscopy was positive in 111 (88.8%) and culture were positive in 94 (75.2%). So it was shown that this method was considered important in the processing of specimen for dermatophytosis compared with 94 culture positives isolated in SDA media. T. rubrum is the commonest species followed by T. mentagrophytes. T. rubrum was the commonest etiological agent of T. corporis followed by T. mentagrophyte. M. audouinii were isolated in 3 cases of Tinea corporis. T. mentagrophyte was the only species isolated in T. pedis. In the mixed infection also the commonest species was T. rubrum. The different dermatophyte species isolated in the present study were T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, T. violaceum, T. tonsurans, T. schoenleinii in genus Trichophyton. E. floccosum and M. audouinii. T. rubrum incidence was highest among Trichophyton species in causing dermatophytosis. Dermatophyte infections are the most common fungal infections in our country. The hot humid season produces a lot of sweat which is congenial for the growth of dermatophytes. There is a varying difference in the isolation of different species of dermatophytes from South and North India. By and large Trichophyton species form the commonest etiological agent of dermatophytosis.

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