Abstracts
Bitter Orange
Bitter Orange
Superficial dermatophyte infection is one of the most common dermatologic diseases. Some of these infections are extremely resistant to therapy
All groups had comparable numbers of patients with tinea corporis, cruris, and pedis. Group 1 was treated with a 25% emulsion of oil of bitter orange (OBO) three times daily; group 2 was treated with 20% OBO in alcohol three times daily and group 3 was treated with pure OBO, once daily.
Clinical and mycologic examinations were performed before therapy and every week until a complete cure had occurred.
In group 1, 80% of patients were cured in 1 to 2 weeks and 20% in 2 to 3 weeks. In group 2, 50% were cured in 1 to 2 weeks, 30% in 2 to 3 weeks and 20% in 3 to 4 weeks. In group 3, 25% of patients did not continue the trial. Of the remaining patients, 33.3% were cured in one week, 60% in 1 to 2 weeks, and 6.7% in 2 to 3 weeks. Oil of bitter orange produced no side effects except mild irritation seen with the use of the pure form.
An in vitro study showed that OBO (natural product) exerts fungistatic and fungicidal activity against a variety of pathogenic dermatophyte species. It is a promising, cheap, and available topical antifungal therapeutic agent.
Ramadan W et al., Oil of bitter orange: new topical antifungal agent. Int J Dermatol, 1996 Jun, 35:6, 448-9.
Diagnosis & Treatment (Athete's Foot)
Diagnosis & Treatment
Review the common dermatophyte genera and the forms of tinea pedia they cause.
Also provide a differential diagnosis, review diagnostic procedures, and outline the pathophysiology of this complex condition. A classification and treatment plan is provided, with an extensive review of recent clinical trials.
Brooks KE & Bender JF: Tinea pedis: diagnosis and treatment. Clin Podiatr Med Surg, 1996 Jan, 13:1, 31-46.
Epidemiology (Athlete's Foot)
Epidemiology
Large-scale studies performed outside the United States have demonstrated that most cases of onychomycosis and tinea pedis are caused by dermatophytes, primarily Trichophyton rubrum. However, other studies have suggested that yeasts and nondermatophytic molds may play a role, particularly in onychomycosis.
This study was undertaken to determine the epidemiology of superficial fungal infections in a U.S. population.
Dermatophytes were the most commonly isolated fungi in each type of superficial fungal disease studied. T. rubrum was the most commonly isolated dermatophyte species, although Trichophyton tonsurans was more common in tinea capitis and equally common in tinea corporis/tinea cruris. In tinea pedis and onychomycosis, dermatophytes appeared in approximately 95% and 82% of isolates, respectively.
Candida albicans and nondermatophyte molds played only a minor role in onychomycosis; C. albicans was isolated in 7% of nail cultures and nondermatophytic molds were isolated in 11%.
These results are in general agreement with other major epidemiologic studies performed outside the United States. Dermatophyte fungi cause most superficial fungal infections.
Kemna ME & Elewski BE: A U.S. epidemiologic survey of superficial fungal diseases. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1996 Oct, 35:4, 539-42.
Interdigital Spaces
Interdigital Spaces
Examined the relationship between prevalence and severity of tinea pedis and the length of service and the width of the spaces between the toes in members of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF #74) undergoing special training.
The combined prevalence of tinea pedis and tinea unguium was 66%. There was a tendency for the prevalence to be higher in subjects who had served for 10 years or more in the SDF than in those with fewer than 10 years of service.
A significant positive correlation was seen between length of SDF service and severity. Subjects with both a long service record and closed interdigital spaces showed both a high prevalence and marked severity.
Noguchi H et al., Tinea pedis in members of the Japanese Self-defence Forces: relationships of its prevalence and its severity with length of military service and width of interdigital spaces. Mycoses, 1995 Nov-Dec, 38:11-12, 494-9.
Militiary Trainees
Militiary Trainees
The conditions surrounding tinea pedis "infection" were surveyed: the degrees of infection and of aggravation attendant upon training, and the "skin" temperature within the leather boots of members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces undergoing winter and summer ranger training.
Before winter training, tinea pedis was diagnosed in 8 of the 15 subjects. After training, 1 further subject had contracted tinea pedis, 5 of the 8 showed slight aggravation, and 3 showed no change.
Before summer training, tinea pedis was found in 9 of another 15 subjects.
Summer training had a more severe effect, developing: "vesiculation", pustules and erosion.
Noguchi H et al., Tinea pedis survey in members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces undergoing ranger training. Mycoses, 1994 Nov-Dec, 37:11-12, 461-7.
Podiatry
Podiatry
The podiatric physician should be keenly aware of various skin conditions and how to deal with them. Dermatologic conditions can be a significant deterrent to the athlete and his or her training schedule.
King MJ: Dermatologic problems in podiatric sports medicine. Clin Podiatr Med Surg, 1997 Jul, 14:3, 511-24.
| Signup Free Applied Health Journal |
||||
|
FREE Sample Issue Your email address is all we need to start you on a better path to health. We respect your privacy.
|
