Topicals, athletes

The use of topical antifungal agents (imidazole antifungals and terbinafine) is the first-line of treatment in athlete s foot. Patients should be advised to be persistent in treatment and that application of the product should be continued for about 10 days after all traces have disappeared. This will ensure eradication. Patient should be educated on non-pharmacotherapeutic measures and adjunctive therapy that contribute towards the management of the condition. The area should be washed regularly and dried thoroughly as... 

Antifungal topical preparations Butenafine, 1% (cream) apply to affected areas once daily Lotrimin Ultra Effective for the treatment of tinea pedis (athlete s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), and tinea corporis (ringworm). Clotrimazole and miconazole also effective against Candida albicans. Clinicians should be aware that products carrying the same brand name do not... 

Fig. 24. A copy of the description of ALPE published in Igaku-No-Ayumi (J Clin Exp Med). Topics loin pain and acute renal failure after exercise (athletics meeting). When patients with this new syndrome come to an emergency room complaining of loin pain, they are often misdiagnosed as having radio-lucent urolithiasis. When a patient complains of severe loin pain after unaccustomed violent exercise at an athletics meeting or during summer bathing, in particular after taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for flu-like symptoms, this new syndrome should be suspected. In addition, the patient s serum creatinine level must be measured. (From [24], with permission)...

For any minor injuries sustained during athletic training NSAIDs and corticosteroids (topical, intra-articular) suppress symptoms and allow the training to proceed maximally. Their use is allowed subject to restrictions about route of administration, but strong opioids are disallowed. Similarly, the IOC Medical Code defines acceptable and unacceptable treatments for relief of cough, hay fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, pain and asthma. Doctors should remember that they may get their athlete patients into trouble with sports authorities by inadvertent prescribing of banned substances. ... 

Miconazole is an alternative. Clotrimazole is an effective topical agent for dermatophyte, yeast, and other fungal infections (intertrigo, athlete s foot, ringworm, pityriasis versicolor, fungal nappy rash). 

Undecylenic acid is one of the better fatty acids for use as a fungicide, although cure rates are low. It can be used in concentrations up to 10% in solutions, ointments, powders, and emulsions for topical administration. The preparation should never be applied to mucous membranes because it is a. severe irritant. Undecylenic acid has been one of the agents traditionally used for athlete s foot (tinea pedis). Cure rates are low. however. 

Tinea pedis (athlete s foot) is a topical fungal infection of the spaces between the toes. 

Athlete s foot is the commonest of a group of topical fungal infections (see Chapter 28) caused by dermatophytes, organisms that invade and proliferate on the outermost horny layer (stratum corneum) of the skin, hair and nails. They do not normally penetrate deeper into the skin or tissues. Dermatophytes tend to thrive in areas of the body that are occluded and moist. 

Tinea pedis is the most common dermatophytoses (affecting approximately 70% of adults). It is better known as athletes foot and occurs in hot weather, with exposure to surface reservoirs (locker room floors), and with use of occlusive footwear." Treatment with topical therapy for 2 to 4 weeks often is adequate for mild infections however, severe infections or involvement of the nails requires oral therapy (see Table 118-8). Recurrence of infection occurs in up to 70% of individuals. Prolonged treatment with either topical or systemic therapy may be required." " ... 

Topical use Treatment of tinea pedis (athlete s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea corporis (ringworm), candidiasis, and tinea versicolor... 

Undecylenic acid is available as a foam, ointment, cream, powder, soap, and liquid, all administered topically. It is indicated as an antifungal and antibacterial agent for tinea pedis (athlete s foot), exclusive of the nails and hairy areas. It is also recommended for relief and prevention of diaper rash, itching, burning and chafing, prickly heat, tinea cruris (jock itch), excessive perspiration, and irritation in the groin area and bromhidrosis. 

This agent is used topically for fungal infection (e.g., vaginal and scrotal infections and athlete s foot). 

Garlic has been used topically in the therapy of various fungal and parasitic infections, including hookworm, roundworm, ringworm, and athlete s foot. 

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