eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Fungal Infections

Tinea Pedis: Follow-up

Author: Courtney M Robbins, MD, Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Boni E Elewski, MD, Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 13, 2008

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

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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

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Courtney M Robbins, MD, Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Courtney M Robbins, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Boni E Elewski, MD, Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Boni E Elewski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Abbott #1 Grant/research funds Investigator; Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Amgen #1 Grant/research funds Investigator; Amgen #2 Stock Stockholder; Barrier #1 Grant/research funds Investigator; Centocor #1 Grant/research funds Investigator; Intendis  Consulting; Mediquest #1 Grant/research funds Investigator; NanoBio Honoraria Consulting; Novartis #1 Grant/research funds Investigator

Medical Editor

Gregory J Raugi, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington at Seattle; Chief, Dermatology Section, Primary and Specialty Care Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center of Seattle
Gregory J Raugi, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Lester F Libow, MD, Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory
Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: elsevier Royalty Other; american college of physicians Honoraria Other

 
 
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