Large-scale epidemiological survey on the actual situation and latent morbidity of tinea pedis and tinea unguium (Foot Check 2023)

Abstract

In 2007, with the aim of ascertaining the percentage of latent patients in Japan with conditions that arise on the foot, especially tinea pedis and tinea unguium, the Japan Organization of Clinical Dermatologists conducted a “large-scale epidemiological survey on the actual situation and latent morbidity of tinea pedis and tinea unguium (Foot Check 2007).” In the 16 years since that survey, new topical antifungal agents for tinea unguium and an oral antifungal agent have been approved, and activities to increase awareness of tinea pedis and tinea unguium have also been conducted. Nonetheless, since then, no large-scale epidemiological survey on the latent morbidity of tinea pedis and tinea unguium has been conducted, and the actual situation had not been fully elucidated. Therefore, to obtain the latest information on the percentage of patients with latent tinea pedis and tinea unguium, the Japan Organization of Clinical Dermatologists planned and conducted a national epidemiological survey on tinea pedis and tinea unguium (Foot Check 2023). Participants were patients who visited an outpatient dermatology department of one of the 211 Japanese institutions affiliated with members of the Japan Organization of Clinical Dermatologists from April 2023 to May 2023, and were asked to participate in a “health check of the foot (Foot Check 2023).” Of the responses obtained from 23,087 patients, 2,116 patients who visited the institution for “a consultation on fungal infection of the foot and/or nail” were excluded, and 14,588 patients who consented to participate in a health check of the foot (Foot Check) were included. The physicians checked the patients for foot and nail disease and symptoms, and a definitive diagnosis of tinea was made when tinea pedis/tinea unguium was suspected. The results revealed that, in Japan, 13.7% of patients (18.9% men, 9.6% women) had tinea pedis, 7.9% (11.6% men, 5.8% women) had tinea unguium, and 16.6% (22.3% men, 12.2% women) either had latent tinea pedis or tinea unguium, revealing that 1 in 6 Japanese people have tinea on their foot. As a role of dermatologists, proactive treatment intervention against tinea pedis and tinea unguium as well as initiatives to increase awareness of the conditions, including preventive measures for latent patients, continue to be important.