Sports-associated dermatophytoses

Abstract

Because of high exposure (e. g. swimmers and athletes competing on mats) and disposition (e. g. microtraumata of the skin in runners) athletes are prone to a higher risk for mycotic infections by dermatophytes. In disciplines with close contact during competition-especially wrestlers and judoists-infections by the anthropophilic Trichophyton (T.) tonsurans are most important (tinea gladiatorum). These infections are highly contagious and often cause small epidemics especially if the primary source of infection is not promptly recognized. The environment of the athletes (e. g. mats) and asymptomatic carriers may be sources of further spread. Tinea pedis with its clinical manifestations seems to be often underdiagnosed and insufficiently treated. Environmental contamination by fungal spores may be responsible for the significantly higher level of mycotic infections of the feet in children and adolescents active in sports. There is a higher risk for spread of the infection to the toe nails (onychomycosis) and for consecutive infections by bacteria (e. g. erysipelas). More rarely infections by zoophilic or geophilic dermatophytes are seen in athletes (e.g. equestrians). Education and more intensive measures of prevention and environmental decontamination are essential for all dermatophytoses associated with sports.

Onychomycosis of the Middle Finger of a Japanese Judo Athlete due to <i>Trichophyton tonsurans</i>

“…The best way to control this infection is to perform hairbrush culture for all club members, and to check and treat the positive members 3,4) . Although our patient had stopped judo practice, his use of steroid ointment on his hands made him susceptible to onychomycosis due to local immunosuppression.…”

S1 guidelines: Tinea capitis

“…In addition to the other two zoophilic dermatophytes -Trichophyton (T.) mentagrophytes and T. verrucosum -that play an important role in TC, T. benhamiae too has become an increasingly relevant pathogen in central parts of Germany and elsewhere [6]. In Germany, T. tonsurans infections must presently be expected to be encountered not only in individuals who have recently migrated from a foreign country but also -as in the past -in (adolescent) martial artists, wrestlers in particular [21,22]. Macroscopically, the yellow colonies of T. benhamiae are easily confused with M. canis.…”

“…In the USA, on the other hand, TC is virtually exclusively caused by T. tonsurans [20]. In Germany, T. tonsurans infections must presently be expected to be encountered not only in individuals who have recently migrated from a foreign country but also -as in the past -in (adolescent) martial artists, wrestlers in particular [21,22].…”

S1‐Leitlinie Tinea capitis

“…In den USA ist T. tonsurans dagegen nahezu ausschließlicher Erreger der TC . Heute ist in Deutschland nicht nur bei Personen mit rezentem Migrationshintergrund mit T. tonsurans zu rechnen, sondern nach wie vor auch bei (jugendlichen) Kampfsportlern, insbesondere beim Ringkampf .…”