Athlete's Foot

Question 1

Symptoms?

Answer 1

Itchy white patches between toes.

Sore and flaky patches on feet.

The skin on your feet may become cracked or bleed

Burning or stinging

Fluid-filled blisters.

Dry, scaly skin on the bottom of the foot that extends up the side.

Inflamed skin that might appear reddish, purplish or greyish, depending on skin colour.

Question 2

Questions?

Answer 2

What symptoms do you have?
Where are the symptoms?
What did the rash look like when it first started?
Has it spread from it original location?
Is the rash painful or itchy?  
Is your leg or foot red or painful?

Does anything seem to make it better? Does anything make it worse?

Have you used anything to treat your symptoms (athletes foot)?

Has your immune system weakened?

Do you know anyone else with athlete’s foot (i.e., family members)

Do you play regular sports?

Have you spent time at swimming pools, locker rooms, saunas or other places where athlete’s foot might be spread?

Question 3

Red flag?

Answer 3

A red, hot and painful leg or foot

A spread of the infection, for example, spreading to the hands

A weakened immune system

If a rash appears, and shows no sign of improvement within two weeks of treatment with over-the-counter antifungal product, the patient must be referred to the GP.

Any patients with diabetes should immediately be referred to the GP.

Question 4

Treatment?

Answer 4

 Clotrimazole
- Daktarin 2% w/w cream

 Apply to the affected area 2-3 times a day and continue for at least 4 weeks. One strip or 0.5cm of cream is enough to treat a hand sized area.

OR

 Miconazole
- Daktarin 2% w/w cream

Apply to the affected area twice a day for 2–6 weeks depending on the severity of the lesions, and continue for 10 days after all skin lesions are healed.