Athlete’s Athlete’s FootFoot

By: Ryan O’ KaneBy: Ryan O’ Kane

The CauseThe Cause Athlete’s foot is a very common skin Athlete’s foot is a very common skin

infection of the feet caused by a fungus infection of the feet caused by a fungus called Trichophyton that infects the upper called Trichophyton that infects the upper layer of skinlayer of skin

How it’s TransmittedHow it’s Transmitted

Athlete’s foot is transmitted by contact Athlete’s foot is transmitted by contact from person to person so the disease is from person to person so the disease is communicablecommunicable

The fungus can be found in many The fungus can be found in many locationslocations Floors in locker roomsFloors in locker rooms Swimming poolsSwimming pools Socks and clothingSocks and clothing

Who gets it?Who gets it?

Contagious from person to personContagious from person to person Anyone can get itAnyone can get it Mainly men from teens to middle ageMainly men from teens to middle age No incubation periodNo incubation period

Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Dry skin on soles of feetDry skin on soles of feet ItchingItching BurningBurning Peeling skinPeeling skin Sometimes cracking, pain, and bleedingSometimes cracking, pain, and bleeding

Diagnosis Diagnosis

Visual observation of Visual observation of symptomssymptoms

Microscopic Microscopic examination of skin examination of skin scrapingsscrapings

Scrapings used to Scrapings used to determine type of determine type of fungus causing the fungus causing the infectioninfection

Acute or ChronicAcute or Chronic

Both acute and chronicBoth acute and chronic Acute: skin on feet Acute: skin on feet

becomes red or white becomes red or white with cracks, burning with cracks, burning and itchingand itching

Chronic: sides and Chronic: sides and soles of feet become soles of feet become pink and scaly, no pink and scaly, no itchinessitchiness

How it’s PreventedHow it’s Prevented

Keep skin clean and dryKeep skin clean and dry Take shoes off and expose Take shoes off and expose

feet to air when at homefeet to air when at home Change socksChange socks Avoid walking barefoot in Avoid walking barefoot in

public areas, instead wear public areas, instead wear flip flopsflip flops

Never borrow another Never borrow another person’s shoesperson’s shoes

TreatmentTreatment

Over the counter Over the counter antifungal powders antifungal powders and creamsand creams

Sprays Sprays ““Tough Actin Tinactin”Tough Actin Tinactin” Not terminal unless Not terminal unless

leads to other leads to other complicationscomplications

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.mayoclinic/health/athletesfoot.comhttp://www.mayoclinic/health/athletesfoot.com

http://www.medicine/athletes_foot/article.comhttp://www.medicine/athletes_foot/article.com