Fungus Infection on Foot

Tinea pedis is a fungus infection of the soles of the feet and the interdigital spaces.

Patients with tinea pedis should be educated that reinfection can occur if they are reexposed to fungus.

Old shoes are often sources of reinfection

Wearing cotton socks and adding a drying powder with antifungal action in the shoes may be helpful.

Commonly patients describe itchy, scaly soles and, painful laceration wound line between the toes.

Elderly persons, may simply attribute their scaling feet to dry skin.

A hot, humid, tropical environment and prolonged use of occlusive footwear are risk factors of tinea pedis.

Certain activities, such as swimming and communal bathing, may also increase the risk of infection

Laboratorium test

Direct potassium hydroxide (KOH) staining for fungal elements.

Fungal elements are easily identified from scaly lesions.

Treatment

Tinea pedis can be treated with topical or oral antifungals or a combination of both

Topical agents are used for 1-6 weeks