How well do you understand fungal athlete's foot?
For each of our following scenarios, think about what you have learned in this section and how you would deal with each customer. Discuss your answers with your pharmacist.
Customer 1
A man in his early 20s is after something for his feet. He is finding the skin between a couple of his toes is very itchy and red. He's not sure what it is, but wonders if it's an allergic reaction to the shower gel he uses.
He is at the gym or playing sports most days and often has a couple of showers a day.
QUESTION: How would you deal with this customer?
Athlete's foot often affects people who use communal changing rooms as they can easily pick up the infection when walking barefoot. The first part of the foot to become affected is usually the area between the fourth and fifth toes, but it can spread to other parts of the foot and even the toenails.
Using the WWHAM questions you:
- Ask him to describe the symptoms and discover the symptoms only affect this part the body, he does not feel itchy anywhere else. This confirms the problem is not an allergic reaction to the shower gel, which would be expected to affect other parts of the body.
- Ask how long he has had the symptoms and if he has had this problem before. You discover that he has had the problem for less than a week and this is the first time he has suffered these symptoms.
QUESTION: Do you think an antifungal treatment alone should be used by this customer?
ACTION: What treatment would you recommend and why? What advice would you offer to prevent the problem recurring again?
If not, discuss the range of products and formats available and the benefits of the different formulations and how they will suit their needs.
Customer 2
A woman in her 30s is seeking something for her partner who has athlete's foot. She has had it before so she recognises the symptoms. The woman would like something that 'really works' as she has tried products before and found that the infection comes back. In this case, the infection seems to be a recurring problem.
Using the WWHAM questions you can:
- Check the symptoms to make sure it is athlete's foot. The woman says her partner has a red, itchy patch between most of his toes and that some of the skin between the toes is quite red and inflamed.
- Find out how long her partner has been suffering from athlete's foot. The woman says it has been on and off for a couple of months.
- Find out what treatment he has used before and when he used it. He has already tried a couple of antifungal treatments and finished the last one a couple of weeks ago.
QUESTION: What else should you ask? Remember to check how the sufferer has been applying the antifungal treatment and how long he has been treating the infection.
ACTION: What would you recommend for this customer? Would you consider recommending an antifungal cream with hydrocortisone? What advice would you give her partner on how to use the treatment and for how long (in the case of antifungal combined with hydrocortisone)? What preventative measures would you recommend?
