Common fungal skin infections
Aside from athlete's foot and thrush, the common fungal skin infections you'll encounter in the pharmacy are sweat rash, ringworm, jock itch and nappy rash. These each have different causes and symptoms, as you can see from the table opposite.
Although between 10 and 20 per cent of us will suffer a fungal skin infection at some point in our lives, there are some factors that make us more likely to develop a fungal infection:
- An increase in the moisture of the skin (e.g. sweating or friction)
- Stopping the skin from breathing (e.g. through clothing or footwear or having to wear medical dressings)
- Certain jobs (e.g. those who have contact with soil or infected animals such as gardeners or farm workers, or people who have prolonged contact with water, such as swimmers).
Use WWHAM
Use the WWHAM questions to help you gain as much information as possible from the customer. This will help you to confirm whether they are suffering from a fungal skin infection and then to recommend the correct treatment.
Customers may feel embarrassed about having a fungal skin infection, so when you do ask any questions, be sensitive. Suggest you continue the conversation in a private area of the shop or even use the consultation room if they would prefer some privacy.
WWHAM Questions
- Who is the medicine for?
- What are the symptoms?
- How long have the symptoms been present?
- Action already taken?
- Medicines taken for other reasons?
- Customers under 16 years of age or over 60 years
- Customers who are pregnant or breast feeding
- Customers who have never had these symptoms before
- Customers with significantly inflamed fungal skin infections
- If there are other symptoms, such as painful or bleeding skin
- Customers who are also taking other medicines
- If the customer suffers from severe symptoms or has unsuccessfully tried an antifungal treatment.
