What should be done for a ten-year-old child with athlete's foot?
Apr 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
In general, athlete's foot refers to tinea pedis, which is usually caused by a fungal infection. A ten-year-old child with tinea pedis can improve through measures such as maintaining foot hygiene, paying attention to diet, avoiding cross-infection, applying topical medications, and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. If the child's symptoms are severe—for example, if blisters, erosion, exudation, or systemic symptoms such as fever develop—prompt medical attention should be sought.
Generally speaking, athlete's foot refers to tinea pedis, which is usually caused by fungal infection. Tinea pedis in a 10-year-old child can be improved by maintaining foot hygiene, paying attention to diet, avoiding cross-infection, applying topical medications, and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Maintain Foot Hygiene
Wash the child's feet daily with warm water. After washing, thoroughly dry the feet, especially between the toes, to avoid residual moisture that may promote fungal growth. It is also recommended to wear breathable shoes and socks, such as cotton socks and shoes with ventilation holes, to help sweat evaporate and reduce foot moisture.
2. Pay Attention to Diet
Encourage the child to eat more foods rich in vitamins, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, especially those rich in B vitamins, such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, lean meats, and legumes. These foods help improve skin resistance and assist in treating athlete's foot. Avoid spicy, greasy, and sweet foods, which may increase foot sweating and worsen symptoms of athlete's foot.
3. Prevent Cross-Infection
Ensure the child uses separate foot basins and towels for drying feet that are not shared with others to prevent cross-infection. Do not allow the child to walk barefoot in public places such as communal bathrooms and swimming pools to avoid contracting fungi from others and to prevent spreading the infection to others.
4. Topical Medications
Under a doctor's guidance, choose antifungal creams with minimal irritation, such as clotrimazole cream or terbinafine cream. After washing and drying the child's feet, apply the cream evenly on the affected area to help relieve symptoms.
5. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatment
Certain traditional Chinese herbal formulas can also help treat tinea pedis. For example, decocting herbs such as Sophora flavescens, Phellodendron bark, Cnidium monnieri, and Cortex Dictamni in water and using the liquid to soak the child's feet can be effective. Soak the feet for 15–20 minutes each time, 2–3 times per week. These herbs have functions of clearing heat, removing dampness, killing parasites, and relieving itching, which can help alleviate symptoms of athlete's foot.
If the child's tinea pedis symptoms are severe—for example, if blisters, erosion, discharge, or systemic symptoms such as fever occur—promptly take the child to see a doctor for further examination and treatment under professional guidance.
