RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of Malassezia furfur with chronic urticaria in the crew members of ships. METHODS: A comparative mycological study of 126 crew members of ships with chronic urticaria and 45 normal control subjects was carried out. The 82 urticaria patients identified as positive for Malassezia furfur were divided into groups A and B to receive treatment with antihistaminics (group A) and antihistaminics combined with 2% ketoconazole shampoo(group A). RESULTS: The carrier rates of Malassezia furfur were significantly higher in urticaria patients than in the normal control subjects (P<0.01), but in view of the case ratios of the final cure or improvement, no significant difference was observed between the two groups by the end of the treatment courses (P>0.05). But 6 to 8 weeks from the end of the treatment course, better therapeutic effect was noted in group B (P<0.01), with higher rate of negative Malassezia furfur findings (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Malassezia furfur may play an important role in the prevalence of chronic urticaria among the crew members, and anti-fungal treatment may produce better long-term therapeutic effect.