Athlete's Foot

What is going on in the body?

Athlete's foot is usually caused by a fungus called Trichophyton. It is a common condition that affects some people more than others. The infection is generally limited to the top layer of skin.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

Sometimes this condition becomes so uncomfortable that the person cannot perform his or her daily routine. If the infection causes skin breakdown, a bacterial infection can result. Bacterial infection can be very harmful, and sometimes, life threatening.

What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?

Itching is the most common and annoying symptom of this condition. It usually is what causes a person to check his or her feet for problems. Athlete's foot usually appears as an itchy, red rash between the toes or underneath the arch of the foot. When the condition is severe, small blisters may form, which sometimes contain pus. Sometimes the skin may look inflamed, dry, and scaly, or it may appear non-scaly.

How is the disease diagnosed?

Most people know when they have athlete's foot by its common symptoms. A definite diagnosis can be obtained by sending skin scrapings to a laboratory to be analyzed.

What can be done to prevent the disease?

To prevent this condition:

use an antifungal powder in the shoes

wash socks in an antifungal solution

change socks daily

wash feet regularly with soap and water, and dry completely with a clean towel or cloth

What are the long-term effects of the disease?

Symptoms, such as itching, can linger. Sometimes this limits a person's ability to comfortably perform his or her daily routine. The most dangerous long-term effect would be a bacterial infection caused by skin breakdown.

What are the risks to others?

Athlete's foot is thought to be mildly contagious. Many people who are exposed to it do not develop athlete's foot, however. Some healthcare providers advise wearing foot thongs or sandals in public showers and locker rooms. This may help reduce the risk of catching athlete's foot.

What are the treatments for the disease?

Athlete's foot is easy to treat at home using an over-the-counter antifungal cream. The creams may contain tolnaftate, miconazole, or other medicines.
If over-the-counter creams do not work, a prescription medicine will be needed. The healthcare provider may prescribe antifungal pills, such as itraconazole or fluconazole.
Once the infection has healed, a person should follow the prevention measures listed above. The best way to avoid problems is to check the feet often for signs of anything unusual.

Comments

Sputum Cytology

How is the test performed? This test is usually performed in the morning, right after waking up. The person is asked to rinse his or her mouth with water to avoid a poor sample. After taking several deep breaths, the person then coughs deeply. This should bring up enough of a material from deep in the lungs known as sputum. Sputum is different from spit. The sputum sample is then taken to a lab. The lab can then examine the sample with a microscope What is involved in preparation for the test? Instructions on sample collection are provided to people having this test. No other special preparation is needed What do the test results mean? Usually, sputum contains some normal cells. No cells that look like cancer should be in the sample. If cancer cells are seen, the person usually has lung cancer.

Immune Assay

Introduction An immune assay is a special method of testing to measure or detect certain substances. This sophisticated test uses the properties of the immune or infection-fighting system. It is usually used when the amount of material to be detected is very small. It is most commonly performed on a sample of blood, though other body fluids may be used. Who is a candidate for the test? The immune assay has many uses, including: testing for infections, such as HIV, Borrelia burgdorferi.\ It is passed to humans through tick bites. ',CAPTION,'Lyme Disease');" onmouseout="return nd();">Lyme disease, or Chlamydia trachomatis\. Sexually transmitted disease refers to any contagious disease transmitted from one person to another during sexual contact. In women, the infection usually occurs in the urinary tract, pelvis, or cervix. The cervix is the opening between the vagina and the uterus. ',CAPTION,'Chlamydia Infection in Fema...

Streptococcal Pharyngitis( Strep Throat)

What is going on in the body? Strep throat is the most common of the many infections that are caused by group A streptococci, or GAS. The bacteria that causes strep throat makes a toxin that results in an infection in the throat and tonsils. A person can develop symptoms of strep throat from 1 to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria. Symptoms in up to 40% of children may be too mild to diagnosis. Up to 20% of school-aged children may be carriers of the bacteria. These children will show no symptoms but can transmit strep throat to others. A sore throat accompanied by fever is caused by a virus 70% of the time. Without treatment, uncomplicated viral infections usually subside within 3 to 10 days after onset. Strep throat is more significant because of the increased incidence of complications. What are the causes and risks of the disease? Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is usually spread by person-to-person contact through coughing or sneezing. Exposure to...

AMS اتحاد العلوم الطبيه المساعده

Search This Blog