Tinea pedis: an updated review

Background: Tinea pedis is one of the most common superficial fungal infections of the skin, with various clinical manifestations. This review aims to familiarize physicians with the clinical features, diagnosis and management of tinea pedis. Methods: A search was conducted in April 2023 in PubMe...

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Main Authors: Alexander KC Leung, Benjamin Barankin, Joseph M Lam, Kin Fon Leong, Kam Lun Hon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BioExcel Publishing Ltd 2023-01-01
Series:Drugs in Context
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.drugsincontext.com/tinea-pedis-an-updated-review/
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author Alexander KC Leung
Benjamin Barankin
Joseph M Lam
Kin Fon Leong
Kam Lun Hon
author_facet Alexander KC Leung
Benjamin Barankin
Joseph M Lam
Kin Fon Leong
Kam Lun Hon
author_sort Alexander KC Leung
collection DOAJ
description Background: Tinea pedis is one of the most common superficial fungal infections of the skin, with various clinical manifestations. This review aims to familiarize physicians with the clinical features, diagnosis and management of tinea pedis. Methods: A search was conducted in April 2023 in PubMed Clinical Queries using the key terms ‘tinea pedis’ OR ‘athlete’s foot’. The search strategy included all clinical trials, observational studies and reviews published in English within the past 10 years. Results: Tinea pedis is most often caused by Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale. It is estimated that approximately 3% of the world population have tinea pedis. The prevalence is higher in adolescents and adults than in children. The peak age incidence is between 16 and 45 years of age. Tinea pedis is more common amongst males than females. Transmission amongst family members is the most common route, and transmission can also occur through indirect contact with contaminated belongings of the affected patient. Three main clinical forms of tinea pedis are recognized: interdigital, hyperkeratotic (moccasin-type) and vesiculobullous (inflammatory). The accuracy of clinical diagnosis of tinea pedis is low. A KOH wet-mount examination of skin scrapings of the active border of the lesion is recommended as a point-of-care testing. The diagnosis can be confirmed, if necessary, by fungal culture or culture-independent molecular tools of skin scrapings. Superficial or localized tinea pedis usually responds to topical antifungal therapy. Oral antifungal therapy should be reserved for severe disease, failed topical antifungal therapy, concomitant presence of onychomycosis or in immunocompromised patients. Conclusion: Topical antifungal therapy (once to twice daily for 1–6 weeks) is the mainstay of treatment for superficial or localized tinea pedis. Examples of topical antifungal agents include allylamines (e.g. terbinafine), azoles (e.g. ketoconazole), benzylamine, ciclopirox, tolnaftate and amorolfine. Oral antifungal agents used for the treatment of tinea pedis include terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole. Combined therapy with topical and oral antifungals may increase the cure rate. The prognosis is good with appropriate antifungal treatment. Untreated, the lesions may persist and progress.
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spelling doaj.art-b04a25ed4ce342e8b011d47e0738fced2023-06-29T05:11:30ZengBioExcel Publishing LtdDrugs in Context1740-43982023-01-011211610.7573/dic.2023-5-1Tinea pedis: an updated reviewAlexander KC LeungBenjamin BarankinJoseph M LamKin Fon LeongKam Lun HonBackground: Tinea pedis is one of the most common superficial fungal infections of the skin, with various clinical manifestations. This review aims to familiarize physicians with the clinical features, diagnosis and management of tinea pedis. Methods: A search was conducted in April 2023 in PubMed Clinical Queries using the key terms ‘tinea pedis’ OR ‘athlete’s foot’. The search strategy included all clinical trials, observational studies and reviews published in English within the past 10 years. Results: Tinea pedis is most often caused by Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale. It is estimated that approximately 3% of the world population have tinea pedis. The prevalence is higher in adolescents and adults than in children. The peak age incidence is between 16 and 45 years of age. Tinea pedis is more common amongst males than females. Transmission amongst family members is the most common route, and transmission can also occur through indirect contact with contaminated belongings of the affected patient. Three main clinical forms of tinea pedis are recognized: interdigital, hyperkeratotic (moccasin-type) and vesiculobullous (inflammatory). The accuracy of clinical diagnosis of tinea pedis is low. A KOH wet-mount examination of skin scrapings of the active border of the lesion is recommended as a point-of-care testing. The diagnosis can be confirmed, if necessary, by fungal culture or culture-independent molecular tools of skin scrapings. Superficial or localized tinea pedis usually responds to topical antifungal therapy. Oral antifungal therapy should be reserved for severe disease, failed topical antifungal therapy, concomitant presence of onychomycosis or in immunocompromised patients. Conclusion: Topical antifungal therapy (once to twice daily for 1–6 weeks) is the mainstay of treatment for superficial or localized tinea pedis. Examples of topical antifungal agents include allylamines (e.g. terbinafine), azoles (e.g. ketoconazole), benzylamine, ciclopirox, tolnaftate and amorolfine. Oral antifungal agents used for the treatment of tinea pedis include terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole. Combined therapy with topical and oral antifungals may increase the cure rate. The prognosis is good with appropriate antifungal treatment. Untreated, the lesions may persist and progress.https://www.drugsincontext.com/tinea-pedis-an-updated-review/athlete’s footdermatophytosisinterdigitalmoccasintrichophyton interdigitaletrichophyton rubrumvesiculobullous
spellingShingle Alexander KC Leung
Benjamin Barankin
Joseph M Lam
Kin Fon Leong
Kam Lun Hon
Tinea pedis: an updated review
Drugs in Context
athlete’s foot
dermatophytosis
interdigital
moccasin
trichophyton interdigitale
trichophyton rubrum
vesiculobullous
title Tinea pedis: an updated review
title_full Tinea pedis: an updated review
title_fullStr Tinea pedis: an updated review
title_full_unstemmed Tinea pedis: an updated review
title_short Tinea pedis: an updated review
title_sort tinea pedis an updated review
topic athlete’s foot
dermatophytosis
interdigital
moccasin
trichophyton interdigitale
trichophyton rubrum
vesiculobullous
url https://www.drugsincontext.com/tinea-pedis-an-updated-review/
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