Athlete's Foot Or Foot Fungus (=Tinea Pedis)

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[edit] Athlete's Foot Or Foot Fungus (= Tinea Pedis)

Introduction:

This foot and toe fungus infection is called "tinea pedis" medically, and is usually caused by the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes. It leads to a breakdown of the skin usually between the 3rd and 4th toes and perhaps the 4th and 5th toes.

Without treatment it will spread to the sole of the foot and often to the other foot. The skin is macerated and the borders are scaling. There are blisters that break open later.The affected skin can get superinfections with bacterial infections . In addition, when not treated appropriately, the infection can spread into the lymphatic vessels causing lymphangitis and lymphadenitis. The diagnosis is made clinically most of the time and also treated accordingly.

However, in cases where the physician is unsure of the diagnosis, a swab for culture can be done or a biopsy for histology to rule out other diagnoses.

Treatment:

Milder cases of athlete's foot will respond to topical treatment with antifungal solution or cream such as ciclopirox (brand name: Loprox cream or lotion). However, when the infection has been there for some time and nails are getting involved in the infection, then a course of oral antifungal medication is needed such as itraconazole (brand name: Sporanox) 200 mg once daily for 1 month. Alternatively, terbinafine (brand name: Lamisil) 250 mg once per day for 2 to 4 weeks can be given. Liver and kidney toxicity has to be monitored.

Infections overview

Skin infections

Tinea infections

References:

1.The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 265.

2.James Chin et al., Editors: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 17th edition, 2000, American Public Health Association

3.The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 112.

4. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 115.

5. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 113.