[Swimmer's eczema: intertrigo, erythrasma or a yeast or fungus infection?]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1994 Nov 19;138(47):2343-5.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

Objective: To determine the proportional contributions of tinea pedis, intertrigo, erythrasma and Candida to 'swimmer's eczema.'

Design: Descriptive.

Setting: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Leiden, the Netherlands.

Method: General practitioners were encouraged to refer every patient with clinical signs of foot mycosis. Mycological tests (culture and microscopy) were performed.

Results: A total of 296 patients with interdigital mycosis and 30 with tinea pedis of the moccasin type were included. In 56% of the patients with swimmer's eczema dermatophytes were recognised, 10% showed erythrasma and in 30% no cause could be found. Candida only played a minor role. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was found more often in swimmer's eczema than in tinea pedis of the moccasin type.

Conclusion: Swimmer's eczema has several causes, which can be determined with mycological tests. Microscopy is the most sensitive method in regard to demonstrating dermatophytes and erythrasma.

MeSH terms

  • Candida / isolation & purification
  • Dermatomycoses / complications
  • Eczema / etiology*
  • Eczema / microbiology
  • Erythrasma / complications
  • Humans
  • Intertrigo / complications
  • Swimming*
  • Tinea Pedis / complications
  • Trichophyton / isolation & purification