Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)
Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)
Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)
(Tinea pedis)
Loh Xin Hui
03/06/09
Background
Athlete's foot(tinea pedis) is a fungal infection of the soles of the feet and
the interdigital spaces.
Thought to be the world’s most common dermatophytosis.
experienced by up to 70% of the population at some time in their lives.
Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton
floccosum are the most commonly cause tinea pedis, with T.rubrum being
the most common cause worldwide.
Tinea pedis may lead to an autosensistisation reaction, called
dermatophytid, which is a secondary cutaneous reaction occurs at a site
distant to a primary fungal infection, resulting in tinea manuum (fungal
infection of palms and finger webs), tinea unguium (fungal infection of
nails), or tinea cruris (fungal infection of the groin and pubic region).
Background
Tinea pedis is contagious, and spreads from
person to person through skin-to-skin contact,
or indirectly through towels, clothes or floors.
- has a dry scaly (flaky) appearance. The skin may be red and the
scale may range from white to silver.
- is rarely itchy or uncomfortable.
Griseofulvin 500-1000 mg
(Bluedaily
Book in single
2008, or divided
Drug Information 14doses.
th
Edition)
In a systematic review, terbinafine was found to be more
effective than griseofulvin, while the efficacy of terbinafine
and itraconazole were similar. (Bell-Syer SE, et al.2002)
Possible Complications
Athlete’s foot is usually a mild fungal infection, but
occasionally the skin may become inflammed and sore if
macerated and broken.
(Blue Book 2008, Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic. 2006, Treatment of Cellulitis. UpToDate)
Patient Education
Common practice to prevent athlete's foot infection: