Treatment of tinea pedis and tinea corporis with antifungal medications

Mr. Everett is diagnosed with Tinea Pedis and Tinea Corporis. What is his problem? How might he have acquired this problem? What classification of anti-infective drugs would be ordered for his treatment? Name three drugs and dosages. Are the drugs RX and/or OTC? What are adverse effects and contraindications? Can they be ordered for children, pregnant and the eldery patients? Are there herbal or alternative products available? What educational point should be noted for him and his family?

Tinea Pedis is more commonly known as athlete's foot. It is a fungal infection of the foot caused by parasites on the skin called dermatophytes. This is a contagious condition caused by excess moisture in the foot area. The moisture can be from excess sweating or from not properly drying the foot area. It can be spread by skin to skin contact or through the sharing of towels, socks, and shoes. It can even be contracted off of the floor. Athlete's foot is characterized by red, itchy patches between and around the toes, possibly small pustules, and a small degree of scaling. Athlete's foot can actually spread to other parts of the body, and in this case is called Tinea Corporis. Tinea Corporis is when a person has athlete's foot on any part of the body other than the foot area.

Tinea Pedis and Tinea Corporis can be treated with anti-fungal creams, sprays, liquids and powders. There are many products available without a prescription. However, if the case is severe, there are also some ointments available with a prescription. Three types of medications used to treat this condition are 1.) Canesten AF cream, 2.) Daktarin cream, and 3.) Lamisil AT cream.

Canesten AF cream is a medication that contains the active ingredient clotrimazole, which is an antifungal medicine used to treat infections with fungi and yeasts. This medication is available in cream, spray or powder form. It should be applied to a dry foot when needed to prevent iching and spreading of the rash. There is no information on this medication and its effect on pregnancy. All pregnant women should consult their doctor before using this medication. It is ok to use on elderly and younger patients, but discontinue use if any signs of an allergic reaction occurs. There are no interaction possibilies with other medications. The side effects can occur on anyone and usually include a burning or warm sensation to the applies area or irritation to the skin. Educational point: Be aware that Tinea Pedis and Tinea Corporis are contagious and can easily be spread through skin to skin contact and off of floors and furniture. Affected areas should be covered and protected. If symptoms persist or become worse, the patient should consult their doctor. Acidophilus is an alternative treatment and is available in supplements or yorgurt.

Daktarin cream is another medication used to treat Tinea Pedia and Tinea Corporis. Daktarin cream contains the active ingredient miconazole. Miconazole is an antifungal medicine used to treat infections with fungi and yeasts. This medication is especially good for Tinea Corporis because it can also be used to treat ring worm, gential fungal infections, nappy rash and scalpel infections. This medication is applied twice a day to the affected area. Most studies show that it does not interact with other medications, however, the patient should inform the doctor if he/she is taking Warfarin to prevent blood clots. There is a very small chance that this medication will interact with Warfarin, which is used to prevent blood clots, so the doctor may want to monitor the blood clotting while using Daktarin. It is ok to use on children aged 6 and older and on the elderly. Attention should be given to allergic reactions. The medication should be used for ten days. After ten days, if the symptoms persist or reoccur, the patient should contact his/her doctor. Pregnant women should consult with a doctor before using Daktarin, however studies have not shown any risk to pregnancy due to use of this medication. The main side effect is irritation of the affected area. Acidophilus is an alternative treatment for this medication and is available in supplements or yorgurt.

Lamasil AT cream is the third medication used to treat Tinea Pedis and Tinea Corporis. Lamisil AT cream contains the active ingredient terbinafine hydrochloride, which is an antifungal medicine used to treat infections caused by fungi. This cream is applied to the affected area as need and is not recommended for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women or children under the age of 16. It is ok to use with elderly patients, but attention should be given to any allergic reaction. Side effects include: redness of the skin, itching of the affected area, and a stinging sensation. Acidophilus is an alternative treatment for this medication and is available in supplements or yorgurt.

Part #2

Antineoplastic and immunological drugs are ordered for a patient with a dx of Cancer of various organs/systems. Name 4 categories of drugs used for treatment. What are the types of cancers the physician might order the drugs for? What combinations would be ordered? What are the major and common side-effects noted? What are the contraindications noted? What are the educational opportunities you would share with the patient and family?

Four categories of Antineoplastic and immunological drugs are: 1.) Antineoplastic Adjuvants, 2.) Antineoplastic Hormones, 3.) Antineoplastic Radiopharmaceuticals, and 4) Antineopastic Topical treatments. These medications are used to treat cancers such as myeloma, lymphoma, and breast cancer. Possible combinations of the antineoplastic drugs include busulfan, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, mechlorethamine, thiptepa, and melphalan. Side effects of antineoplastic medications include, but are not limited to: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection such as fever; chills, or sore throat); seizures; skin rash; yellowing of the skin or eyes; persistent cough; missed menstrual periods, or unusual lumps or masses. In some cases secondary cancers have been reported while using these medications. Contraindications include: hypersensitivity to azathioprine and mercaptopurine. Educational Information for the family: Antineoplastic medications are used as Chemotherapy to treat various forms of cancer. Chemotherapy refers to medicines that can kill or control cancer. Chemotherapy medicines target and treat a specific area affected by cancer. These medicines travel to all parts of the body through the bloodstream. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, which means it is a treatment that affects the whole body. There are many kinds of chemotherapy. The medicine chosen will depend on the type and the extent of the cancer, as well as the potential side effects of the medicine. Each medicine will have its own specific side effects. Most of the time, chemotherapy is given as an outpatient procedure in a clinic or a doctor's office. People generally do not need to stay overnight in the hospital to receive chemotherapy.

Part #4

You are asked by a friend to look into obtaining medications for them? You are aware that your friend need crucial medication for their heart problem. You are also aware that they do not take their medication as ordered due to lack of money, transportation etc. What advice would you give them? How might you help them obtain the necessary resources? In general what would you tell them about taking medication.

In this case, I would explain the seriousness of my friend's heart condition and the importance of taking the proper, prescribed medications. I would first tell my friend that he/she should consult a doctor. The doctor will diagnose the heart problem and prescribe the needed medicine. Once he/she had the medicine, then I would discuss the importance of the medicine to the heart. Without the medicine, he/she would probably be in a lot of pain and could possible die. The heart medicine has to be a top priority in his/her life regardless of his/her socioeconomic conditions.

I would explain to my friend that there are governmental programs that could help him/her obtain the needed medication. One of these programs is www.needymeds.com.This site is not an actual organization that offers assistance with the medication payments, it offers a list of organization that can help those who need assistance with paying for medications based on their particular situation. It list several organizations that are available to help my friend get the medication that he/she needs for his/her heart. Another really good site for medication assistance is www.rxassist.org.Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place. Through these two sites, my friend may be able to find assistance that delivers the medication to him/her through the mail. If he/she does not have a car, there may be a mail order service for medications available on one of these two sites. All in all, I can always offer to go and pick my friend up and drive him/her to the pharmacy to get the medication when needed. I would make sure that my friend had the medication that he/she needed, even if I had to drive him/her to pick it up.

Lastly, I would stress the importance of taking the medication as prescribed. It is very important that he/she follows the directions on the medication label and follows all of the orders given to him/her by the doctor.

As a friend, I can play a huge roll in this situation. I would not want to lose my friend to a heart problem, so I would do whatever steps necessary to assure that my friend has the medication he/she needs and takes it as prescribed.