Medical Questions » Feet Questions » Question No. 371
| Question: | How do you catch athlete' s foot, and what causes it? |
| Answer: | Fungi are members of the plant kingdom, and are one of the types of microscopic life that can infect human beings in many diverse ways. The most common site of infection is the skin, where they cause an infection that is commonly known as tinea. The fungus that causes tinea can be found everywhere in the environment in the form of hardy spores. These are microscopic in size and may survive for decades before being picked up and starting an infection. Between the toes the fungus causes a type of tinea commonly known as athlete' s foot. This is because athletes sweat and wear close-fitting shoes that lead to the ideal warm, damp environment favoured by fungi. |
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