Tinea pedis in European marathon runners.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological studies suggest that 15% of the population in industrial countries suffer from tinea pedis (athlete's foot) and that persons who do sports are a high-risk population.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the responsibility of dermatophytes in interdigital lesions of the feet in European marathon runners and to identify associated risk factors.


METHODS
Runners of the 14th Médoc Marathon (n = 147) were interviewed on risk factors for tinea pedis and underwent physical and mycological examinations.


RESULTS
Interdigital lesions of the feet were found in 66 runners (45%). A dermatophyte was isolated in 45 runners (31%), 12 of whom were asymptomatic. Trichophyton interdigitale and T. rubrum accounted for 49% and 35.5%, respectively, of the cases of tinea pedis. Thirty-three (22%) of the 102 runners free of dermatophyte infection had lesions resembling those of tinea pedis. Increasing age and use of communal bathing facilities were predictive of T. rubrum culture.


CONCLUSIONS
Marathon runners are at high risk for tinea pedis, but dermatophytes are responsible for only half of the foot lesions found in runners. The existence of asymptomatic carriers calls for prophylactic measures.
Lacroix
C
C
Department of Mycology and Parasitology, Hĵpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France. claire.lacroix@sls.ap-hop-paris.fr
Baspeyras
M
M
de La Salmonière
P
P
Benderdouche
M
M
Couprie
B
B
Accoceberry
I
I
Weill
F X
FX
Derouin
F
F
Feuilhade de Chauvin
M
M
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*