2024 Volume 5 Issue 3 Pages 175-180
Tinea pedis is a notable foot care concern, especially as an exacerbating factor for diabetic foot conditions. It is categorized into three types: interdigital, vesicular, and keratotic. The keratotic type is characterized by minimal pruritus in the heel lesion. Accurate diagnosis is crucial, as this disorder may be asymptomatic. The gold standard for diagnosing tinea pedis is the potassium hydroxide (KOH) direct microscopic method. However, the method requires experience, especially for the collection of specimens. In the present study, we explored an alternative approach using a cosmetic electric callus remover (hereinafter referred to as ‘Remover’) . Additionally, we assessed the diagnostic utility of a dermatophyte antigen kit (hereinafter referred to as ‘Kit’) , which incorporates a monoclonal antibody to dermatophytes. Our study included 39 participants: 19 individuals with keratotic-type tinea pedis or a primary complaint of heel keratosis, and 20 able-bodied volunteers. We found that both the Kit and the KOH methods yielded well-matched data in terms of sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio. The combination of the Remover and the Kit may be useful for diagnosing keratotic-type tinea pedis and could serve as an auxiliary tool to improve diagnostic accuracy.
