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Treatment of fungal infection.

Introduction

Mushroom treatment infection may include:

  • General measures
  • Reduction of reinfection
  • Current antifungal medication
  • Oral antifungal medications.

General measures

  • Correct predisposing factors when possible.
  • Keep the affected skin clean and dry. Wash daily. Take care to dry between the fingers and in the skin folds; use a hair tumble dryer if necessary. Use your own towel.
  • Thoroughly clean the shower or bath with bleach.
  • Hot wash socks, towels, bath mats at a temperature of at least 60°C.
  • Regularly wash the floors where you walk barefoot.
  • Use an antiseptic
    • Decualinium chloride tablets for oral yeast infection (Dequacaine®, Dequadin®)
    • Diyodohydroxyquinoline for vulvovaginal candidiasis (Floraquin® vaginal tablets).

To reduce reinfection

Mushroom spores can survive long periods. The following measures can be used to reduce the possibility of reinfection.

  • Do not share towels, sheets or personal clothing.
  • Avoid walking barefoot where others may step - wear jandals, sandals, or water socks in public pools and sports locker rooms.
  • Avoid long periods wearing the same clothes or occlusive clothing such as wet weather gear and nylon pantyhose.
  • Wear open sandals when possible. Avoid long periods of time in occlusive footwear like rubber boots or hobo boots.
  • Use antifungal foot dust which contains cyclopirox, econazole, miconazole, tolcyclate, tolnaftate or undecylenic acid. Sprinkle on your shoes.
  • In the case of zoophilic fungal infections, infected animals should be identified and treated.

More information

  • Topical antifungal medication
  • Oral antifungal medication
New Zealand approved data sheets are the official source of information for these prescription drugs, including approved uses and risk information. See the New Zealand individual data sheet on the Medsafe website.