Medical Health Encyclopedia

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Athlete's foot, tinea pedis

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Athlete's foot

Alternative Names: Tinea pedis; Fungal infection - feet; Tinea of the foot; Infection - fungal - feet; Ringworm - foot Symptoms: The most common symptom is cracked, flaking, peeling skin between the toes. The affected area is usually red and itchy. You may feel burning or stinging, and there may be blisters, oozing, or crusting. In addition to the toes, the symptoms can also occur on the heels, palms, and between the fingers. Text Continues Below If the fungus spreads to your nails, they can become discolored, thick, and even crumble. See also fungal nail infection. Signs and tests: The diagnosis is based primarily on the appearance of your skin. If tests are performed, they may include: Skin culture (fungi from flecks of skin are able to grow in the lab) Skin lesion biopsy (examination may show fungus under the microscope) Skin lesion KOH exam (skin scrapings in KOH show fungus under the microscope) References: Habif, TP. Clinical Dermatology. 4th Ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2004. Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG, eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2nd Ed. New York, NY: Elsevier, 2003.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.