How to avoid alipunga and other fungal infections during the rainy season

It's that time of the year again, when torrential rains cause floods in streets—floods contaminated by trash, excrement and other detritus of urban living. And commuters have no choice but to wade through these waters, just to get to their destinations.

The result is a spike in skin diseases and fungal infections, especially in the feet.

“Ang mga fungi mas nag-go-grow siya sa mga area na basa. Isang paraan ay 'pag nababad sa contaminated na tubig,”explained dermatologist Dr. Cristabel Sy in an interview aired on GMA News TV's “Balitanghali” on Monday.



Sy said the high humidity and moisture brought by the monsoon weather provides favorable condition for fungi and bacteria to grow rapidly. Because of this, fungal infections such as athlete's foot (alipunga), atopic dermatitis (eczema) and feet mumps are most common during this season.

“Yung clinical [signs] na lang ang titignan mo, nagwe-wet between the toes, pwede rin sa ilalim ng paa. Nagkakaroon ng butlig na makakati, usually mga mapuputi na parang kulay balat, later on pwede siya mag-burst o kaya sa sides ng paa,” said Sy of the common signs of fungal infections.

Here are some tips given by Sy to avoid or rather cure feet infection during the rainy season:

• Wash feet thoroughly with soap and water immediately after arriving home.
• After washing with soap, apply alcohol on the feet and let them dry before stepping into your slippers.
• For people who are suffering from athlete's foot, combine one glass of white vinegar and one glass of lukewarm water in a basin. Soak your feet for 15 minutes. Let your feet dry and apply anti-fungal foot powder. Do this process twice a day.

The Mayo Clinic also provides tips on how to prevent fungal infections. Here are some of them:

• Keep your feet dry, especially the areas between your toes, where the bacteria usually grows.
• Change socks regularly—even twice a day if your feet sweat a lot.
• Wear shoes made of light materials. Avoid shoes made of leather or vinyl
• Alternate pairs of shoes. If possible, avoid wearing the same pair of shoes every day to give your shoes time to dry.
• Do not share shoes.

Sy also warned against leptospirosis, an infectious disease that spreads through the urine of infected animals.

Read: What is leptospirosis?

Sy said it is advisable to wear rubber boots or “bota” everytime you are braving the flood. — Elizabeth Marcelo/BM, GMA News