Athlete's foot: Difference between revisions

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__NOTOC__
{{Infobox Disease |
{{Infobox Disease |
   Name          = Athlete's foot or tinea pedis |
   Name          = Athlete's foot |
   Image          = athletes.jpg |
   Image          = athletes.jpg |
   Caption        = Pale, flaky & split skin of athlete's foot in a toe web space |
   Caption        = Pale, flaky & split skin of athlete's foot in a toe web space |
   DiseasesDB    = 13122 |
    
  ICD10          = {{ICD10|B|35|3|b|35}} |
  ICD9          = {{ICD9|110.4}} |
  ICDO          = |
  OMIM          = |
  MedlinePlus    = 000875 |
  eMedicineSubj  = |
  eMedicineTopic = |
  MeshID        = |
}}
}}
{{Athlete's foot}}
{{Athlete's foot}}
'''This page is about clinical aspects of the disease.  For microbiologic aspects of specific causative organisms:'''
{{Seealso|Trichophyton rubrum}}
{{Seealso|Trichophyton interdigitale}}
{{Seealso|Trichophyton tonsurans}}
'''For patient information click [[{{PAGENAME}} (patient information)|here]]'''
'''For patient information click [[{{PAGENAME}} (patient information)|here]]'''


{{CMG}}
{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{KS}} {{NS}}
==Overview==
 
==Symptoms==


==Diagnosis==
{{SK}} Tinea pedis
==[[Athlete's foot overview|Overview]]==


== Transmission ==
==[[Athlete's foot historical perspective|Historical Perspective]]==


==Prevention==
==[[Athlete's foot pathophysiology|Pathophysiology]]==
The practices given in this section do not only help prevent spread of the fungus, they can also help greatly in managing and curing athlete's foot in an individual by reducing or eliminating re-exposure to the fungus in one's home environment. 


The fungi that cause athlete's foot can live on shower floors, wet towels, and footwear. Athlete's foot is caused by a fungus and can spread from person to person from shared contact with showers, towels, etc.  Hygiene therefore plays an important role in managing an athlete's foot infection.  Since fungi thrive in moist environments, it is very important to keep feet and footwear as dry as possible.
==[[Athlete's foot causes|Causes]]==


===Prevention measures in the home===
==[[Athlete's foot differential diagnosis|Differentiating Athlete's Foot from other Diseases]]==
The fungi that cause athlete's foot live on moist surfaces and can be transmitted from an infected person to members of the same household through secondary contact.<ref name=household1>{{cite news |author=Robert Preidt
|title=Athlete's Foot, Toe Fungus a Family Affair |url=http://www.healthscout.com/news/68/535172/main.html |format=Reprint at ''USA Today'' |publisher=''HealthDay News'' |date=September 29, 2006 |accessdate=2007-10-10 |quote="Researchers used advanced molecular biology techniques to test the members of 57 families and concluded that toenail fungus and athlete's foot can infect people living in the same household."}}</ref>  By controlling the fungus growth in the household, transmission of the infection can be prevented. 
====Bathroom hygiene====
*Spray tub and bathroom floor with [[disinfectant]] after each use to help prevent reinfection and infection of other household members.


====Frequent laundering====
==[[Athlete's foot epidemiology and demographics|Epidemiology and Demographics]]==
*Wash sheets, towels, socks, underwear, and bedclothes in hot water (at 60&nbsp;°C / 140&nbsp;°F) to kill the fungus. 
*Change towels and bed sheets at least once per week.


====Avoid sharing====
==[[Athlete's foot risk factors|Risk Factors]]==
*Avoid sharing of towels, shoes and socks between household members. 
*Use a separate towel for drying infected skin areas.


===Prevention measures in public places===
==[[Athlete's foot natural history, complications and prognosis|Natural History, Complications and Prognosis]]==
*Wear shower shoes or sandals in locker rooms, public showers, and public baths.
*Wash feet, particularly between the toes, with soap and dry thoroughly after bathing or showering.
*If you have experienced an infection previously, you may want to treat your feet and shoes with [[over-the-counter drugs]].


===Personal prevention measures===
==Diagnosis==
*Dry feet well after showering, paying particular attention to the web space between the toes.
[[Athlete's foot history and symptoms|History and Symptoms]] | [[Athlete's foot physical examination|Physical Examination]] | [[Athlete's foot laboratory findings|Laboratory Findings]] | [[Athlete's foot other diagnostic studies|Other Diagnostic Studies]]
*Try to limit the amount that your feet sweat by wearing open-toed shoes or well-ventilated shoes, such as lightweight mesh running shoes.
*Wear lightweight cotton socks to help reduce [[sweat]].  These must be washed in hot water and/or bleached to avoid reinfection. New light weight, moisture wicking polyester socks, especially those with anti-microbial properties, may be a better choice.
*Use foot powder to help reduce moisture and friction. Some foot powders also include an anti-fungal ingredient.
*Wear open-toed shoes or simply light-weight socks without shoes when at home.
*Keep shoes dry by wearing a different pair each day.
*Change socks and shoes after exercise.
*Replace sole inserts in shoes/sneakers on a frequent basis.
*Replace old sneakers and exercise shoes.
*To prevent jock itch: When getting dressed, put on socks before underwear.
*After any physical activity shower with a soap that has both an antibacterial and anti-fungal agent in it.
 
==Treatments==
There are many conventional medications (over-the-counter and prescription) as well as alternative treatments for fungal skin infections, including athlete's foot. Important with any treatment plan is the practice of good hygiene. Several placebo controlled studies report that good foot hygiene alone can cure athlete's foot even without medication in 30-40% of the cases.<ref>[http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010901/791.html Over-the-Counter Foot Remedies] (American Family Physician)</ref>  However, placebo-controlled trials of [[allylamine]]s and [[azole]]s for athlete’s foot consistently produce much higher percentages of cure than placebo.<ref name="Crawford_2007">{{cite journal |author=Crawford F, Hollis S |title=Topical treatments for fungal infections of the skin and nails of the foot |journal=[[Cochrane Library|Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews]] |date= 18 July 2007 |issue=3 |pages=Art. No.: CD001434 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001434.pub2 |url=http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD001434/frame.html  |format=Review}}</ref>
 
===Conventional treatments===
Conventional treatment typically involves daily or twice daily application of a topical medication in conjunction with hygiene measures outlined in the above section on [[Athlete's foot#prevention|prevention]].  Keeping feet dry and practicing good hygiene is crucial to preventing reinfection. Severe or prolonged fungal skin infections may require treatment with oral anti-fungal medication. Apply zinc oxide based diaper rash ointment. To prevent sweaty or wet feet that are breeding grounds for athlete's foot, apply [[talcum powder]] (baby powder) to absorb moisture that kills off the infection.
 
====Topical medications====
{{main|Antifungal drug}}
 
The fungal infection is often treated with topical [[antifungal drug|antifungal]] agents, which can take the form of a spray, powder, cream, or gel.  The most common ingredients in [[Over-the-counter drug|over-the-counter]] products are [[miconazole nitrate]] (2% typical concentration in the United States) and [[tolnaftate]] (1% typ. in the U.S.). [[Terbinafine]], is another over-the-counter drug. There exists a large number of prescription antifungal drugs, from several different drug families. These include [[ketaconazole]], [[itraconazole]], [[naftifine]], [[nystatin]], [[caspofungin]]. One study showed that allylamines ([[terbinafine]], [[Amorolfine]], [[naftifine]], [[butenafine]]) cure slightly more infections than azoles ([[Miconazole]], [[ketaconazole]], [[clotrimazole]], [[itraconazole]], [[sertaconazole]], etc.).<ref name="Crawford_2007"/> [[Undecylenic acid]] (a [[castor oil]] derivative) is a known fungicide that can be used for fungal skin infections such as athlete's foot. [[Whitfield's Ointment]] (benzoic and salicylic acid) is an older treatment that still sees occasional use.
 
Some topical applications such as [[carbol fuchsin]] (also known in the U.S. as Castellani's paint), often used for [[intertrigo]], work well but in small selected areas. This red dye, used in this treatment like many other [[staining (biology)|vital stains]], is both [[Fungicide|fungicidal]] and [[Bacteriocide|bacteriocidal]]; however, because of the staining it is cosmetically undesirable. For many years [[gentian violet]] was also used for bacterial and fungal infections between fingers or toes.
 
The time line for cure may be long, often 45 days or longer. The recommended course of treatment is to ''continue to use the topical treatment for four weeks after the symptoms have subsided'' to ensure that the fungus has been completely eliminated. However, because the itching associated with the infection subsides quickly, patients may not complete the courses of therapy prescribed.


Anti-itch creams are ''not'' recommended as they will alleviate the symptoms but will exacerbate the fungus; this is due to the fact that anti-itch creams typically enhance the moisture content of the skin and encourage fungal growth. For the same reason, some drug manufacturers are using a gel instead of a cream for application of topical drugs (for example, [[naftin]] and Lamisil). [[Novartis]], maker of Lamisil, claims that a gel penetrates the skin more quickly than cream.
==Treatment==
[[Athlete's foot medical therapy|Medical Therapy]] | [[Athlete's foot prevention|Prevention]]


If the fungal invader is not a dermatophyte but a yeast, other medications such as [[fluconazole]] may be used. Typically fluconazole is used for candidal vaginal infections [[moniliasis]] but has been shown to be of benefit for those with cutaneous yeast infections as well. The most common of these infections occur in the web spaces (intertriginous) of the toes and at the base of the fingernail or toenail. The hall mark of these infections is a cherry red color surrounding the lesion and a yellow thick pus.
==Case Studies==
[[Athlete's foot case study one|Case #1]]


====Oral medications====
==Related Chapters==
Oral treatment with [[griseofulvin]] was begun early in the 1950s. Because of the tendency to cause liver problems and to provoke [[aplastic anemia]] the drugs were used cautiously and sparingly. Over time it was found that those problems were due to the size of the crystal in the manufacturing process and microsize and now ultramicrosize crystals are available with few of the original side effects.
 
For severe cases, the current preferred oral agent in the UK,<ref>{{cite web |author=[[National Health Service (England)|National Library for Health]] |title=What is the best treatment for tinea pedis? |url=http://www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=6098 |date= 06/September/07 |publisher=UK [[National Health Service (England)|National Health [[Media:Service]]|accessdate=2007]]-09-29}}</ref> is the more effective [[terbinafine]].<ref name="Bell-Syer_2002">{{cite journal |author=Bell-Syer SEM, Hart R, Crawford F, Torgerson DJ, Tyrrell W, Russell I. |title=Oral treatments for fungal infections of the skin of the foot |journal=[[Cochrane Library|Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews]] |year=2002 |month=22 April |volume=2 |pages=Art. No.: CD003584. |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003584 |url=http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD003584/frame.html |format=Review}}</ref> Other prescription oral antifungals include [[itraconazole]] and [[fluconazole]].<ref name="pmid12895184"/>
 
===Alternative treatments===
====Topical oils====
Symptomatic relief from itching may be achieved after topical application of [[tea tree oil]], probably due to its involvement in the [[histamine]] response;<ref name="pmid12452873">{{cite journal |author=Koh KJ, Pearce AL, Marshman G, Finlay-Jones JJ, Hart PH |title=Tea tree oil reduces histamine-induced skin inflammation |journal=Br. J. Dermatol. |volume=147 |issue=6 |pages=1212–7 |year=2002 |pmid=12452873 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.05034.x}}</ref> however, the efficacy of tea tree oil in the treatment of athlete's foot (achieving mycological cure) is questionable.<ref name="pmid11563570">{{cite journal |author=Bedinghaus JM, Niedfeldt MW |title=Over-the-counter foot remedies |journal=American family physician |volume=64 |issue=5 |pages=791–6 |year=2001 |pmid=11563570 |doi= |url=http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010901/791.html}}</ref><ref name="pmid1303075">{{cite journal |author=Tong MM, Altman PM, Barnetson RS |title=Tea tree oil in the treatment of tinea pedis |journal=Australas. J. Dermatol. |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=145–9 |year=1992 |pmid=1303075 |doi=10.1111/j.1440-0960.1992.tb00103.x}}</ref>
 
====Onion extract====
A study of the effect of 3% (v/v) aqueous onion extract was shown to be very effective in laboratory conditions against ''Trichophyton mentagrophytes'' and ''T. rubrum''.<ref name=onionextract>{{cite web |author=Shams M |title=The effect of onion extract on ultrastructure of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum -- Abstract number: 902_p517 |work=14th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Prague / Czech Republic |date=May 1–4, 2004 |publisher=European Society of clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases |url=http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/eccmid14/abstract.asp?id=14160 |accessdate=2007-09-29}} and it is very strong</ref>
 
====Garlic extract====
[[Ajoene]], a compound found in garlic, is sometimes used to treat athlete's foot.<ref>{{cite journal | author=Eliades Ledezma, Katiuska Marcano, Alicia Jorquera, Leonardo De Sousa, Maria Padilla, Mireya Pulgar, Rafael Apitz-Castro | title=Efficacy of ajoene in the treatment of tinea pedis: A double-blind and comparative study with terbinafine| journal=Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology | date=2000-11 | volume=43 | issue=5 | pages=829–832 | url=http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0190-9622/PIIS0190962200343675.pdf |format=PDF| doi=10.1067/mjd.2000.107243 | format={{Dead link|date=June 2008}} &ndash; <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3AEfficacy+of+ajoene+in+the+treatment+of+tinea+pedis%3A+A+double-blind+and+comparative+study+with+terbinafine&as_publication=Journal+of+the+American+Academy+of+Dermatology&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}}</ref>
 
====Rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar====
Direct application of [[rubbing alcohol]] and/or [[hydrogen peroxide]] after bathing can aid in killing the fungus at the surface level of the skin and will help prevent a secondary (bacterial) infection from occurring.  In addition, soaking the feet in a bath of 70% rubbing alcohol will help dry the skin out, and likewise kill the invading fungus.  The alcohol is not, however, effective against spores. [[Vinegar]] in some cases has killed the fungus and is effective against spores.
 
====Boric acid====
[[Boric acid]] application in the socks is used to prevent athlete's foot when recurrent infections occurs, but is not used to treat it.
 
====Hair dryer====
Since fungi grow in moist conditions, it is very important to dry the feet well after bathing.  A hair dryer can be used to aid the drying process, or to dry feet which have become slightly moist in between showers or baths.
 
====Baking soda====
Rubbing feet with a baking soda paste and/or sprinkling baking soda in shoes is thought to help by changing pH.<ref>[http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/47/7.cfm The Doctors Book of Home Remedies Athletes Foot<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
 
====Household bleach (not recommended)====
The use of household [[bleach]] as a direct topical application or soak for tinea pedis is not recommended, as it is a well documented irritant (clearly labelled in the United Kingdom as "Harmful" by [[COSHH]]).  It is used ''diluted'' as an '''environmental''' decontaminatant to prevent the spread of dermatophytes between animals, and from animals to humans.
 
====Epsom salts====
Some podiatrists recommend soaking the feet in a solution of [[magnesium sulfate|Epsom salts]] in warm water.
 
=====Urinating=====
Members of the US Military have used the method of urinating on the infected foot in the shower to get rid of the infection. It has proven non-effective.
 
==Etymology==
The Oxford English Dictionary documents written usage of the term in 1928 ('''1928''' ''Lit. Digest'' 22 December. 16/1), which seems to undercut the claim by W. F. Young, Inc. that the term "athlete's foot" was originated, rather than simply popularized, as part of an advertising campaign for Absorbine Jr. during the 1930s.<ref name=absorbinejr> The [http://www.absorbine.com/absorbinejr/about Story of W. F. Young, Inc. and Absorbine] at the Absorbine website.</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[Antifungal drug]]s
* [[Antifungal drug]]s
* [[Boric acid]] - as treatment
* [[Boric acid]] - as treatment
* [[Ringworm]]
* [[Ringworm]]
* [[Tinea]]
* [[Tinea]]
 
* [[Dermatophytosis]]
==Reference==
{{Reflist|2}}
 
==External links==
 
* [[MedlinePlus]] [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/athletesfoot.html Athlete's Foot Article]
* [[WebMD]] [http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/Athletes-Foot-Topic-Overview Athlete's Foot Article]


{{Mycoses}}
{{Mycoses}}
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{{Diseases of the skin and appendages by morphology}}
{{Diseases of the skin and appendages by morphology}}


[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Dermatology]]
[[Category:Infectious skin diseases]]
[[Category:Infectious skin diseases]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
 
[[Category:Fungal diseases]]
[[Category:Fungal diseases]]
[[Category:Foot diseases]]
[[Category:Foot diseases]]
[[Category:Overview complete]]


[[ar:مرض قدم الرياضي]]
[[de:Fußpilz]]
[[es:Pie de atleta]]
[[fr:Pied d'athlète]]
[[id:Kaki atlit]]
[[it:Piede d'atleta]]
[[nl:Zwemmerseczeem]]
[[ja:水虫]]
[[pl:Grzybica stóp]]
[[pt:Pé de atleta]]
[[simple:Athlete's foot]]
[[su:Leuncangeun]]
[[fi:Jalkasieni]]
[[sv:Fotsvamp]]
[[th:โรคน้ำกัดเท้า]]
[[tr:Atlet ayağı]]
[[zh-yue:香港腳]]
[[zh:足癣]]


{{WH}}
{{WH}}
{{WS}}
{{WS}}

Latest revision as of 17:35, 27 July 2020

Athlete's foot
Pale, flaky & split skin of athlete's foot in a toe web space

Athlete's foot Microchapters

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This page is about clinical aspects of the disease. For microbiologic aspects of specific causative organisms: Template:Seealso Template:Seealso Template:Seealso

For patient information click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2] Sanjana Nethagani, M.B.B.S.[3]

Synonyms and keywords: Tinea pedis

Overview

Historical Perspective

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Athlete's Foot from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

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History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies

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