Disease Cards: Athlete's Foot (Tinea pedis)

Treatment of Disease

Administration of antifungal medication.

Name of Infectious Agent

Dermatophytes

Transmission of Disease

Athlete's foot thrives in thick, tight shoes that squeeze the toes together and create warm, moist areas between them. Damp socks and shoes and warm, humid conditions also favor the organisms' growth. The fungus is transmitted by sharing clothes or shoes with someone who has the fungal infection or walking barefoot in public areas where the infection can spread.

Type of Infectious Agent

Fungus

Diagnosis of Disease

Skin scrapings or samples from the infected area are taken and viewed under a microscope.

Symptoms of Disease

Symptoms include itching, stinging, and burning between the toes; itching, stinging, and burning on the soles of the feet; itchy blisters; cracking and peeling skin, especially between the toes and on the soles of the feet; excessive dryness of the skin on the bottoms or sides of the feet; and/or toenails that are thick, crumbly, ragged, discolored, or pulling away from the nail bed.