Foot Fungus: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

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10 Apr, 2023

Overview

Is foot fungus an infectious disease And how does infection occur What treatments are available And how is prevention?

The German Association of Dermatologists says that foot fungus belongs to infectious diseases, noting that one can be exposed to these fungi in places where many people walk barefoot, such as changing rooms, swimming pools, shared bathing places in saunas or hotels, where in such places the possibility of contact with infected sites increases.

She added that foot fungus often starts between the fingers as redness appears in this area, small blisters form and the patient suffers from itching. Most often, the infection develops and cracks appear that are painful when trying to open between the fingers.

And if a person is infected with a foot fungus, he has to treat it in any case, usually, he manages to do it himself, consulting with a doctor or pharmacist.

The treatment of foot fungus must be carried out constantly. And even if the symptoms subside quickly, the etiology may be present, and soon spread again upon early termination of treatment.

Causes of foot fungus

Infection with foot fungus is caused as a result of the transmission of one of the types of fungus to the foot by direct contact with the infected person or by touching a surface contaminated with this fungus.

Fungi grow and multiply in a humid and warm environment, so their presence is noted in the following:

Bathtubs and showers.
Around the swimming pools.
Public changing rooms.

Therefore, it is advisable to choose clean places that are constantly sterilized to prevent infection from picking up.

Complications of foot fungus

Infection with erysipelas

The German Association warned that failure to treat foot fungus may lead to its spread and infect the nails. In the worst case, fungi and bacteria can penetrate through the cracks and cause Erysipelas disease, a bacterial skin infection of the upper dermis that characteristically extends to the superficially cutaneous lymphatics. This is according to the Medscape website.

And when pains appear in the foot with swelling and a feeling of chills, the sufferer should turn to a dermatologist.

Treatment of Foot Fungus

Antifungal agents

The fungus can be treated with what are known as antifungals, which are in the form of creams or powders that kill the fungus. These preparations should be used once to twice a day for several continuous weeks, with the need to consult a doctor.

The patient should use broad-spectrum antifungals, that is, drugs, which are not limited to resistance to a particular fungus, taking into account that the treatment is not applied only to the affected area, but should be applied to a wide area of the foot.

The injured person should always be careful to constantly dry between the toes, taking into account that this area is not rubbed with a towel, so as not to cause it to become infected, which increases the chances of the fungus spreading. In this case, it is recommended to use air to dry the foot.

Prevention

For the Prevention of foot fungus, slippers should be worn while in Group bathing places, hotels, or swimming pool areas. If you have been infected several times or are prone to foot fungus infection, it is better in this case to use an antifungal foot cream once or twice a week as a preventive measure.

Foot Fungus: Causes, Treatment & Prevention