title: Prevalence of tinea pedis in professional and college soccer players versus non-athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess and compare the prevalence of tinea pedis among professional soccer players, college soccer players, and non-athletes. We sought to assess the prevalence of various risk factors and their association with tinea pedis among these different groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey study.
  
  
  METHODS
  United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of a United Soccer League (USL) professional team (N = 16), male (N = 16) and female (N = 14) NCAA soccer teams at a local college, and male (N = 15) and female (N = 15) non-athletes from a local medical school.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants anonymously answered questions on their risk factors for tinea pedis and underwent physical and mycological examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical exam, potassium hydroxide solution (KOH), and culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tinea pedis infected 69% professional soccer players (11 of 16) compared with 69% of male college soccer players (11 of 16) and 43% of female college soccer players (6 of 14), whereas non-athletes demonstrated significantly less tinea pedis (P < 0.001), including 20% of male non-athletes (3 of 15) and 0% of female non-athletes (0 of 15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate a need for improved primary prevention of tinea pedis among athletes. A preventive program involving education and coach participation is needed to target these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pickup
authors.forename: Brian B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology