Follow-up
Further Outpatient Care
The need for follow-up care should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Further outpatient visits may be indicated, depending on the extent and severity of the infection. Treatment regimens may need to be switched or augmented.
Inpatient & Outpatient Medications
See Medication.
Deterrence/Prevention
See Patient Education.
Complications
Secondary cellulitis, lymphangitis, pyoderma, and even osteomyelitis can result from mycotic infections of the feet. These complications are seen more frequently in patients with conditions such as chronic edema, immunosuppression, and diabetes.
Prognosis
The type of tinea pedis infection and underlying conditions (eg, immunosuppression, diabetes) affect the prognosis; however, with appropriate treatment, the prognosis is generally good.
Patient Education
Patients should be educated that reinfection can occur if they are reexposed to dermatophytes. Old shoes are often sources of reinfection and should be disposed of or treated with antifungal powders.
Patients should be cautioned to wear protective footwear at communal pools and baths and should attempt to keep their feet dry by limiting occlusive footwear. When occlusive footwear is worn, wearing cotton socks and adding a drying powder with antifungal action in the shoes may be helpful.
For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Foot Care Center. In addition, see eMedicine's patient education articles Athlete's Foot and Ringworm on Body.
Miscellaneous
Medicolegal Pitfalls
Because tinea pedis is not associated with significant mortality or morbidity, the risk of medicolegal liability is slight. Secondary cellulitis, lymphangitis, and pyoderma can result from complications of mycotic infections of the feet, and practitioners must provide appropriate treatment in such cases.
More on Tinea Pedis |
| Overview: Tinea Pedis |
| Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Tinea Pedis |
| Treatment & Medication: Tinea Pedis |
Follow-up: Tinea Pedis |
| References |
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References
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Further Reading
Keywords
athlete's foot, ringworm of the feet, dermatophytosis, dermatophytid, Trichophyton rubrum, T rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, E floccosum, Scytalidium hyalinum, S hyalinum, Scytalidium dimidiatum, S dimidiatum
Follow-up: Tinea Pedis