Results of Questionnaire Survey of Trichophyton tonsurans Infection in Judo Clubs Registered Under the All Japan Judo Federation

Abstract

It has been seven years since an outbreak of Trichophyton tonsurans infection occurred in Japan. We have examined the state of T. tonsurans infection by a hairbrush test of athletes and a questionnaire survey of doctors' experience in its treatment, but have not completely grasped the actual state of infection at the sites of judo matches and its treatment or application of preventive measures. The questionnaire was distributed to the leaders of all judo clubs (10,077 clubs) registered under the All Japan Judo Federation, and responses recovered from 1,199 clubs (11.9%) were analyzed. These leaders were asked about (1) members of the club, (2) recognition of the infection, (3) experience of the breakout of infection at present and in the past, (4) present state of preventive measures, and (5) their opinions and requests. A higher percentage of the leaders of junior high school physical education judo clubs and primary school judo clubs responded they "did not know" about the infection, as compared with leaders of the other age groups. The answer regarding the "experience of the outbreak of infection" was "yes" in responses from 371 clubs (30.9%) , with a significantly higher percentage of leaders of senior high school judo clubs replying in the affirmative. Concerning preventive measures such as providing shower rooms, 540 clubs (45.1%) answered "no measures taken", which was more frequent in junior high school and primary school judo clubs. Since T. tonsurans infection is expected to spread to younger age groups in the future, a nationwide campaign by the All Japan Judo Federation for the education of risk of infection is urgently needed.