Prevalence of tinea pedis in professional and college soccer players versus non-athletes

Objective: To assess and compare the prevalence of tinea pedis among professional soccer players, college soccer players, and non-athletes. We sought to assess the prevalence of various risk factors and their association with tinea pedis among these different groups. Design: Survey study. Setting: United States. Patients: Members of a United Soccer League (USL) professional team (N = 16), male (N = 16) and female (N = 14) NCAA soccer teams at a local college, and male (N = 15) and female (N = 15) non-athletes from a local medical school. Intervention: All participants anonymously answered questions on their risk factors for tinea pedis and underwent physical and mycological examinations. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical exam, potassium hydroxide solution (KOH), and culture. Results: Tinea pedis infected 69% professional soccer players (11 of 16) compared with 69% of male college soccer players (11 of 16) and 43% of female college soccer players (6 of 14), whereas non-athletes demonstrated significantly less tinea pedis (P < 0.001), including 20% of male non-athletes (3 of 15) and 0% of female non-athletes (0 of 15). Conclusions: These results indicate a need for improved primary prevention of tinea pedis among athletes. A preventive program involving education and coach participation is needed to target these individuals.