Abstract
Background. The etiology of foot intertrigo is varied. Several pathogens and skin conditions might play a role in toe web space lesions. Objective. To identify the possible etiological causes of toe web space lesions. Methods. 100 Egyptian patients were enrolled in this study (72 females and 28 males). Their ages ranged from 18 to 79 years. For every patient, detailed history taking, general and skin examinations, and investigations including Wood's light examination, skin scraping for potassium hydroxide test, skin swabs for bacterial isolation, and skin biopsy all were done. Results. Among the 100 patients, positive Wood's light fluorescence was observed in 24 and positive bacterial growth was observed in 85. With skin biopsy, 52 patients showed features characteristic for eczema, 25 showed features characteristic for fungus, 19 showed features characteristic for callosity, and 3 showed features characteristic for wart while in only 1 patient the features were characteristic for lichen planus. Conclusion. Toe web space lesions are caused by different etiological factors. The most common was interdigital eczema (52%) followed by fungal infection (25%). We suggest that patients who do not respond to antifungals should be reexamined for another primary or secondary dermatologic condition that may resemble interdigital fungal infection.
Highlights
Toe web intertrigo may present as a relatively asymptomatic, mild scaling but it can be seen as a painful, exudative, macerated, erosive, inflammatory process which is sometimes malodorous [1].Foot intertrigo is mostly caused by dermatophytes and yeasts and less frequently by Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria
We suggest that patients who do not respond to antifungals should be reexamined for another primary or secondary dermatologic condition that may resemble interdigital fungal infection
This study included 100 Egyptian patients living in Cairo who presented at Dermatology Departments of Al-Azhar University Hospitals with toe web space lesions
Summary
Toe web intertrigo may present as a relatively asymptomatic, mild scaling but it can be seen as a painful, exudative, macerated, erosive, inflammatory process which is sometimes malodorous [1].Foot intertrigo is mostly caused by dermatophytes and yeasts and less frequently by Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria. A “complex” may develop in the setting of moisture and maceration that contains multiple fungal and bacterial organisms [2, 3]. These interdigital lesions are often diagnosed as tinea pedis or eczematous dermatitis. Several pathogens and skin conditions might play a role in toe web space lesions. To identify the possible etiological causes of toe web space lesions. Toe web space lesions are caused by different etiological factors. We suggest that patients who do not respond to antifungals should be reexamined for another primary or secondary dermatologic condition that may resemble interdigital fungal infection
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