Athlete’s foot

From WikiParenting

Athlete’s foot, also known as Tinea pedis, is a condition that most people will develop at least once during their life. It is most common in boys and men over the age of 12, but can affect most anyone. Children that develop athlete’s foot may have feet that sweat a lot, or they tend to not change their socks often enough. It is caused by a fungus.

[edit] Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of athlete’s foot are:

• A red rash on the skin of the feet, especially between the toes
• The rash is extremely itchy
• The rash may develop into fluid filled blisters
• After the blisters pop, the exposed skin is painful
• There may also be scaling and cracking skin

If left untreated, the rash can spread to other areas of the foot. The fungus that causes the rash can also infect the toenail and fingernail beds and cause thickening of the nails and eventual nail loss if the infection is not controlled. Athlete’s foot can by spread to other areas of the body by scratching the rash and touching another part of the body, like the groin or armpit. The rash can also be transferred by bed sheets or clothing that has the fungus on it.

[edit] Causes

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection caused by the fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum. The fungus that causes athlete’s foot prefers an environment with poor air circulation and that is moist and dark. Most people carry the fungus on their skin. It is not known why some people develop athlete’s foot and others do not, but there are factors that have been shown to promote the growth of the fungus. They are:

• Sweaty feet
• Tight fitting shoes
• Synthetic socks that do not wick moisture away from the feet
• Living in a warm climate
• Failure to dry off the feet after bathing or swimming

[edit] Treatment

[edit] Over the counter medication

Athlete’s foot can be treated using an over the counter preparation made labeled for that purpose. Medications are available in cream, liquid, and spray form. Follow the label directions carefully. Other things you can do to help rid your child of the fungus are:

• Have your child go barefoot as much as possible
• When they wear shoes, make sure they wear cotton socks. Socks should be changed twice a day.
• Have your child dry their feet after bathing, especially between the toes

Watch the athlete’s foot until it has completely resolved; secondary bacterial infections can develop in the cracked skin.

[edit] Alternative treatment

Cinnamon footbaths are an alternative treatment to over the counter medications. To treat your child in this manner:

• Boil 4 cups of water
• Add 10 cinnamon sticks that have been broken into pieces
• Turn heat to low and simmer 5 minutes
• Remove from heat and let sit until cool, about 45 minutes

After the mixture has cooled, pour into a container deep and wide enough to hold the liquid and your child’s feet comfortably.