Fungus of the feet (ICD code 10 B35. 3) is a fungal infection of the skin of the legs caused by parasitic dermatophytes. It occurs in about 20% of adults. Infection occurs through microtrauma, scratches, abrasions, wounds. The development of the disease is promoted by wet feet, diabetes mellitus and weakened immunity.
In people with endocrine disorders, immunodeficiency states, the prevalence reaches 50%. Most often, the disease proceeds in a chronic form with alternating periods of remission and exacerbations. In 40 to 50% of cases, the fungal infection of the feet causes onychomycosis or a fungal infection of the nails.
Where and why does the infection occur?
Fungus of the feet is a contagious disease that is easily transmitted through direct contact with a carrier of the fungus or through household items. For example, through shoes, socks, towel, manicure supplies, rubber mats in the shower. In 70 to 95% of cases, the causative agent of foot fungus is Trichophyton red (Tr. Rubrum).
Usually infection occurs in public places with high humidity, where conditions are favorable for the reproduction and spread of the pathogen. These places include swimming pools, public showers, saunas, water parks, gym locker rooms. If a person infected with a fungus walks barefoot on the floor or rugs in the shower, they will leave infectious particles behind. And if a healthy person walks into this place with bare feet, the pathogen will fall on his skin. In this case, the fungus does not always manifest itself immediately and causes the characteristic symptoms of the disease. With strong immunity, the absence of health problems, a person simply remains a carrier of the infection, but at the same time he does not get sick.
The risks of catching fungi and the development of fungal infections of the feet increase:
- damage to the integrity of the skin;
- violation of the blood supply to the extremities, in which the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues worsens, regeneration processes slow down, local immunity is weakened;
- diabetes mellitus, high blood sugar creates favorable conditions for the growth of the fungus, the progression of infection;
- excessive sweating;
- dry skin, which leads to microcracks;
- old age;
- blood diseases;
- long-term use of antibiotics, drugs that suppress immunity;
- vitamin deficiency;
- Wear shoes that are impermeable to air and create a "greenhouse effect".
Symptoms and types of the disease
Fungal infections of the feet manifest themselves in different ways, the type of pathogen and the severity of the lesionaffect the symptoms. The first signs of the disease appear in the folds between the fingers, and from there spread to the plantar, lateral, back and fingernails.
The appearance of the feet with mycosis is shown in the photo.
When the nails are infected, there is a thickening, loss of shine, opacification of the plaque. The nail acquires a yellow and gray tint, becomes brittle, crumbles.
The first clinical symptoms of yeast infection of the feet include dryness, peeling of the skin, painless cracks in the folds between the toes. This form of the disease is called erased. The peeling and cracks at the beginning do not cause pain, itching or discomfort. Only a doctor can notice the first unexpressed signs of a fungal infection. In addition to the erased one, there are also other clinical forms of foot fungus, each with its own symptoms.
Squamous
In the scaly form of mycosis of the feet, there is peeling in the folds between the toes and on the sides. Usually there is no sign of inflammation. Redness, damage to the nails, itching, thickening of the stratum corneum, which gives the skin a glow, is possible. 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 appears as a rash on the arches. The surface of the elements of the rash is covered with layered scales of gray-white color. There is a detachment of the epidermis, single vesicles. When merging with each other, the rashes form large, indistinct foci that spread throughout the plant, including the lateral and dorsal surfaces. In addition to the foci of desquamation, there are areas of hyperkeratosis or thickening of the skin. They look like calluses with cracks on the top. With a hyperkeratotic form of mycosis of the feet, the affected area is similar to manifestations of psoriasis or eczema. A person worries about dryness, itching, and sometimes pain.
Intertriginous
The intertriginous form of mycosis of the feet is similar to the symptoms of diaper rash. Hence the name of lat. intertrigo - "diaper rash". Most often, the skin is affected in the intervals between the third and fourth, fourth and fifth fingers. It turns bright red, edematous. Weeping wounds, deep painful cracks form. Unlike diaper rash, lesions in intertriginous yeast infection are round with sharp outlines, with a white outline parting along the edges of the epidermis. The person experiences itching, burning, pain.
Dyshidrotic
Dyshidrotic forms of mycosis of the feet are characterized by multiple vesicles with thick apices, located mainly on the arches. The rash spreads to large areas of the soles, as well as the spaces between the toes and the skin of the toes. Merge to form large bubbles. In the place of the bursting of the bubble, wet erosion appears. With the growth of inflammation, the skin turns red and swells. At the stage of vesicle formation, the patient feels unbearable itching.
Diagnostics
If you suspect a yeast infection of the feet, you should consult a dermatologist. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will examine the legs, ask what symptoms bother the person, for how long and after what they appeared. Take a scraping of the affected area for microscopic analysis, cultural research to identify a specific type of pathogen. In addition, your doctor may order blood tests.
How to treat fungal infection of the feet?
Mycologist or dermatologist deals with the treatment of mycosis of the skin of the feet. Taking into account the clinical form of the disease, the severity of the lesion, visible changes, the doctor will select an adequate therapy.
Complications of a yeast infection of the legs can lead to infection with a fungus of the hands. Yeast infection of the feet sometimes leads to secondary bacterial infections, especially when oozing sores are present on the skin.
External fungicidal agents (ointments, creams), tablets for oral administration are prescribed to combat the fungus. Only local therapy is effective for milder forms of foot fungus. According to clinical guidelines, oral medications are prescribed in severe cases.
If necessary, the treatment is supplemented with anti-inflammatory, drying, antiseptic, anti-allergic drugs, agents that improve the regeneration of damaged tissues. If there are signs of bacterial infection, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.
With onychomycosis, a physical cleansing of the areas infected with the fungus is carried out. For further treatment of the nails, local antifungal agents are prescribed: varnish, cream or ointment.
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 that a completely healthy nail plate grows back.
When the doctor's prescriptions are followed, the yeast infection can be treated successfully. But if, seeing an improvement, the patient stops taking drugs, this leads to a return 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 fungus, foot care, personal hygiene, diet, selection of comfortable shoes that do not hurt the affected areas.
What to do for prevention?
To prevent fungal infections of the feet and nails or reduce the risks of their development, the following recommendations will help:
- to control chronic diseases in which blood 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 the toes;
- ventilate your shoes and change socks every day;
- Wear closed rubber slippers when visiting public showers, saunas, swimming pools, baths;
- in case of excessive sweating, use antiperspirants for the feet, disinfectants for shoes, not to wear other people's shoes, socks or tights;
- don't use someone else's towel, washcloth.
If you notice slight flaking of the skin on your legs or cracks between your toes, it is worth taking a fungus test. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment will help avoid complications, significant damage, discomfort, pain when walking, and bacterial infection.