Self Care Articles

Is this your child's symptom?

• An itchy rash of the feet and between the toes
• Skin infection caused by a fungus
• Age over 10 years

Symptoms of Athlete's Foot

• Red, scaly, cracked rash between the toes
• The rash itches and burns
• With itching, the rash becomes raw and weepy
• Often also involves the insteps of the feet
• Unpleasant foot odor
• Mainly in teens. Before age 10, it's usually something else.

Cause of Athlete's Foot

• A fungus infection that grows best on warm, damp skin

Other health problems of Athlete's Foot

• Jock Itch. A fungus infection of the groin and inner, upper thighs. Caused by the same fungus that causes athlete's foot. Transferred by a towel used to dry the feet and then the groin.
• Impetigo. A local bacterial infection that starts in the cracks between the toes. Gives sores, soft scabs and pus.
• Cellulitis. The bacterial infection spreads into the skin. Gives redness spreading into the back of the foot. The red area is painful to the touch.
• Lymphangitis. The bacterial infection spreads up the lymph channels. Gives a red line that goes up the leg. More serious because the infection can get into the bloodstream. This is called sepsis.