Foot mycosis (ICD code 10 B35. 3) is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet caused by parasitic dermatophytes. Occurs in about 20% of adults. Infection occurs through microtrauma, scratches, abrasions, wounds. The development of the disease is stimulated by wet feet, diabetes mellitus and weakened immunity.
Among people with endocrine disorders, immunodeficiency conditions, the prevalence reaches 50%. Most often, the disease persists in a chronic form with alternating periods of remission and exacerbations. In 40-50% of cases, foot mycosis causes onychomycosis or a fungal infection of the nails.
Where and why does the infection occur?
Foot mycosis is a contagious disease that is easily transmitted through direct contact with a fungus carrier or through household items. For example, through shoes, socks, a towel, manicure tools, rubber clothes in the shower. In 70-95% of cases, the causative agent of foot mycosis is Trichophyton red (Tr. Rubrum).
Usually, the infection occurs in public places with high humidity, where there are favorable conditions for the reproduction and spread of the pathogen. Such places include swimming pools, public showers, saunas, water parks, locker rooms for gyms. If a person infected with a fungus walks barefoot on the floor or carpets under the shower, he will leave infectious particles. And if then a healthy person treads on this place with bare feet, then the pathogen will fall on his skin. In this case, the fungus does not always appear immediately and cause the characteristic symptoms of the disease. With strong immunity, lack of health problems, a person remains merely a carrier of the infection, but at the same time he does not get sick.
Risks of fungal infection and development of foot mycosis increase:
- damage to skin integrity;
- violation of the blood supply to the extremities, in which the supply of tissues with oxygen and nutrients deteriorates, the regeneration processes slow down, the local immunity weakens;
- diabetes mellitus, high blood glucose levels create favorable conditions for fungal growth, progression of infection;
- excessive sweating;
- dry skin, which leads to microcracks;
- old age;
- blood diseases;
- long-term use of antibiotics, immunosuppressive drugs;
- vitamin deficiency;
- Wearing waterproof shoes creates a "greenhouse effect".
Symptoms and types of disease
Mycoses of the feet appear in different ways, the type of pathogen and the severity of the lesion affect the symptoms. The first signs of the disease appear in the folds between the toes and from there they spread to the toe, sides, back and nails.
What mycosis feet look like is shown in the picture.
When nails become infected, thickening, loss of shine, plaque blurring is observed. The nail takes on a yellow, gray color, becomes brittle, crumbles.
Early clinical symptoms of foot mycosis include dryness, peeling of the skin, painless cracks in the folds between the toes. This form of the disease is called deleted. Peeling and cracking at first do not cause pain, itching or discomfort. Only a doctor can notice the first unexpressed signs of a fungal infection. In addition to the deleted one, there are other clinical forms of foot mycosis, each of which has its own symptoms.
Squamous
In the squamous form of mycosis of the feet, there is peeling in the folds between the toes and on the sides. As a rule, there are no signs of inflammation. Redness, damage to the nails, itching, thickening of the corneal layer, which gives the skin radiance. The papillary lines become more pronounced and the surface of the skin becomes dry, covered with lamellar scales. In this case, the patient does not feel itching or other unpleasant sensations.
Hyperkeratotic
It looks like a rash on the arch. The surface of the blush elements is covered with grayish-white layered scales. There is a detachment of the epidermis, single vesicles. When joined together, the rashes form large fuzzy foci that spread throughout the foot, including the lateral, dorsal surfaces. Along with skin foci, there are areas of hyperkeratosis or thickening of the skin. They look like calluses with cracks on top. With a hyperkeratotic form of foot mycosis, the affected area is similar to the manifestations of psoriasis or eczema. A person worries about dryness, itching and sometimes pain.
Intertriginous
The intertriginous form of foot mycosis is similar to the symptoms of diaper rash. Hence the name from lat. intertrigo - "diaper rash". Most often, the skin is affected in the interval between the third and fourth, fourth and fifth fingers. It becomes bright red, edematous. Crying wounds, deep and painful cracks form. In contrast to diaper rash, the lesions in intertriginous mycosis are round with clear outlines, with a white outline splitting along the edges of the epidermis. The person experiences itching, burning, soreness. Dyzydrotic
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Dyshydrotic forms of foot mycosis are characterized by numerous bladders with a thick tip, located mainly in the arches. The rash spreads to large areas of the feet, as well as to the spaces between the toes and the skin of the toes. Combine to form large bubbles. Wet erosion appears instead of the bubble bursting. As inflammation increases, the skin becomes red and swollen. In the bladder formation stage, the patient feels unbearable itching.
Diagnosis
If you suspect foot mycosis, you should see a dermatologist. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will examine the feet, ask about those symptoms that bother the person, how long ago and after which they appeared. Take an itch from the affected area for microscopic analysis, cultural research to identify a specific type of pathogen. Additionally, your doctor may order blood tests.
How to treat foot mycosis?
Mycologist or dermatologist deals with the treatment of foot skin mycosis. Taking into account the clinical form of the disease, the severity of the lesion, the obvious changes, the doctor will choose an adequate therapy.
Complications of a fungal infection of the foot can lead to infection with a hand fungus. Mycosis of the feet sometimes leads to secondary bacterial infections, especially when tear wounds are present on the skin.
External fungicidal agents (oils, creams), tablets for oral administration are prescribed to fight the fungus. Only local therapy is effective for milder forms of foot mycosis. According to clinical guidelines, oral medications are prescribed in severe cases.
If necessary, treatment is supplemented with anti-inflammatory, drying, antiseptic, anti-allergic drugs, agents that regenerate damaged tissues. If there are signs of a bacterial infection, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.
With onychomycosis, hardware cleaning of fungus-infected areas is performed. For subsequent nail processing, local antifungal agents are prescribed: varnish, cream or oil.
The duration of treatment is from two weeks to one month. If not only the skin is affected but also the nails, the treatment is delayed. This is due to the fact that the nail grows slowly. To get rid of the infection, it is necessary for a perfectly healthy nail plate to grow back.
When a doctor's prescription is followed, mycosis can be successfully cured. But if, noticing an improvement, the patient stops taking the medication, it leads to a relapse of the infection, its transition to a chronic form. It is necessary to complete the full course, even if the symptoms of the disease have already disappeared.
Very important in the treatment of foot mycosis are foot care, personal hygiene, diet, choice of comfortable shoes that do not damage the affected areas.
What should you do about prevention?
To avoid fungal infections of the feet and nails or to reduce the risk of developing them, the following recommendations will help:
- keep chronic diseases in whichblood circulation in the lower extremities is impaired or the body's defenses are reduced;
- Wash your feet daily with soap and water, then dry them with a towel, especially the folds between your toes;
- air your shoes and change your socks every day;
- Wear closed rubber slippers when visiting public showers, saunas, swimming pools, baths;
- in case of excessive sweating, use antiperspirants for feet, disinfectants for shoes, do not wear shoes, socks, sweaters of others;
- do not use someone else's towel, the washing cloth.
If you find even light skin on your feet or cracks between your toes, it's worth a fungus test. Early diagnosis and timely treatment will help avoid complications, extensive damage, discomfort, pain while walking, and getting a bacterial infection.