ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete's foot, is a fungal infection affecting the skin of the feet, primarily between the toes. Despite being a common condition, there may be gaps in knowledge and practices regarding its transmission, risk factors, and treatment options among the general population. METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The study involved 2371 adult population in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed online through social media means. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). RESULTS: A significant portion (66.1%) of respondents reported not examining their feet regularly. The majority (80.7%) of the respondents reported regular use of nail scissors as the common practice. The results further revealed that the majority of respondents (71.7%) were not aware of tinea pedis. Similarly, a large proportion (77.3%) of respondents were unaware of the risk factors associated with tinea pedis. However, among those aware, the most recognized risk factor was diabetes mellitus (82.3%), followed by peripheral arterial disease (37.1%), and immunocompromised conditions like HIV (31.3%). There was a significant association (p = 0.001) between regular foot examination practices and awareness of tinea pedis. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, there is low awareness regarding tinea pedis among the Saudi Arabian population. Only a small proportion demonstrated good knowledge of the condition and its symptoms. However, there is a relatively higher awareness of specific risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and peripheral arterial disease. Hence, it is imperative to enhance education and awareness campaigns to address the gaps in understanding tinea pedis, its associated risk factors, and symptoms, particularly among individuals engaged in physical activities and those who regularly wear sports shoes.
ABSTRACT
Background and aim Studies have shown a significant relationship between psychological stress (PS) and health, and it is widely believed that factors such as stress and anxiety may not only be the result of certain diseases but can also cause and exacerbate some diseases. There is a lack of research on PS and its association with other skin conditions. Thus, this study aimed to examine the association of PS with skin symptoms using objective scales in the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out between February 6, 2023, and April 4, 2023. We administered an electronic questionnaire survey, consisting of Cohen's perceived stress scale and a self-reported skin complaint questionnaire, distributed via an online platform in the KSA. In all, 629 completed questionnaires were returned. Statistical analysis was conducted using RStudio. The results were presented as beta coefficients and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). A p-value of <0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results The majority of the participants were female (71.7%, n=388), of Saudi nationality (93.2%, n=504), had a bachelor's degree (68.6%, n=371), were aged 18-29 years (58.8%, n=318), and were residing in the Western region (39.9%, n=216). Acne (26.8%, n=145) and eczema (12.8%, n=69) were the most commonly reported skin conditions. The stress level was low in 30.5% of the respondents (n=165), moderate in 64.9% of the respondents (n=351), and high in 4.6% of the respondents (n=25). The average skin symptom score was significantly predicted by the presence of psoriasis (p < 0.001), eczema (p < 0.001), acne (p < 0.001), rash (p < 0.001), and baldness (p = 0.041). Furthermore, the average skin symptoms scores were significantly higher among participants with high stress (median = 1.6, interquartile range (IQR) = 1.4, 1.8) than among those with moderate (median = 1.4, IQR = 1.2, 1.8) and low stress (median = 1.4, IQR = 1.1, 1.4, p < 0.001). Conclusion The general population of Saudi Arabia reported multiple skin symptoms associated with stress. PS can cause various common skin conditions including loss of hair, eczema, and acne. This study highlights the importance of assessing common skin problems in the general population in the KSA and their strong association with PS. Various skin conditions including loss of hair, eczema, and acne can be caused by PS. Dermatologists should be aware of the context of PS when assessing patients with these conditions.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It has been estimated that 30% of diabetic people experience dermatological problems. Fungal infections are the most frequent cause of these lesions. While tinea infections in non-diabetic individuals rarely cause symptoms, in diabetes patients, they can create fistulas and entry sites that can result in catastrophic bacterial infections. AIM: This research paper aims to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with tinea pedis among diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The research paper incorporated a cross-sectional study approach with the involvement of a questionnaire-based response aimed at all Saudi inhabitants with diabetes mellitus (DM) who conceded to be part of the study. This research was carried out from March 22, 2023, to May 22, 2023, spanning for three months. The participants who satisfied our requirements provided data using computerized Google Forms for data collection; no nominative information disseminated via social media platforms was visible. The three components of the questionnaire address diabetic information, tinea pedis infections, and foot care. RESULTS: A total of 295 people with diabetes case were involved in the study. Among them, 149 (50.5%) were males, and their ages stretched from 16 to above 60 years, with a mean age of 49.5 ± 12.9 years old. A total of 194 (65.8%) of the study patients had type II DM. Of 134 (45.4%) were diagnosed with diabetes for more than 10 years. Exact 152 (52%) of the study diabetic patients were diagnosed with tinea pedis. Only patients' BMI showed a significant association with having tinea pedis as 47 of overweight diabetics were diagnosed with tinea pedis versus 47 of obese patients and only five patients of others who were underweight (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: This research concluded that almost 50% of patients with diabetes were suffering from obesity and were earlier diagnosed with tinea pedis and poor glycemic control irrespective of reported good diabetic foot care.
