Close proximity with other soccer players, shaking hands with dozens of fans, frequent travels and stays in hotels, sharing of washrooms, saunas and so on increase the chances of acquiring skin infections by the football players.
Bacterial Skin Infections in Football Players
Common bacterial infections affecting the football players are the boils caused by Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), hair follicle infections and secondary infection of the wounds acquired during football matches. There have been a number of reports of outbreak of MRSA infections among college football teams following cosmetic body shaving and turf burns.
- Invasive group-A streptococcal infections causing severe skin disease have also been reported among soccer players.
- The carrier state of the MRSA is frequently responsible for the recurrent attacks of multiple boils in athletes and football players. The staphylococci remain infectious at sites like the anterior nares (nasal opening) or the gluteal folds in such situations.
- It is essential for the players to have a complete physical examination prior to important matches like the FIFA World Cup to rule out contagious skin diseases like the MRSA infections.
- Pitted keratolysis, caused by the corynebacteria, presents as circular shallow punched out pits on the soles. Prolonged wearing of occlusive footwear and sweaty feet are the predisposing factors in pitted keratolysis.
Fungal Skin Infections in Soccer Players
Fungal infections of the groin and the athlete’s foot are one of the commonest skin diseases affecting the soccer players. This is because of the hot and humid conditions in which they play and frequent after-practice showers. Long hours of wearing occlusive soccer shoes contribute to the fungal infections of the feet and the interdigital area of the toes. Players with sweaty palms and soles are more prone for fungal infections in these situations.
- Tinea cruris, the ringworm of the groin, is quite common among football players. This presents as itchy, scaly patches in the crural folds. A typical diagnostic feature of ringworm is the central clearance of the patches with slightly raised, active margins.
- Fungal infection of the body folds has to be differentiated from the intertrigo caused by mechanical friction of the skin of the thighs, where the skin will be uniformly red and raised with burning sensation predominating over the itchiness.
- Bacterial intertrigo presents as macerated foul smelling patches with fissuring in the groin and in between the toes.
- Pityriasis versicolor, the skin infection caused by the yeast Malassezia furfur, is quite common among football players because of the excessive sweaty and humid conditions pf play.
Viral Skin Infections in Footballers
Viral infections like herpes simplex infection, similar to the Gladiator herpes seen in wrestlers, and herpetic whitlow seen in hairdressers, is a distinct possibility in soccer players too if they come in close contact with a player with active cold sores.
Rubbing the feet on the toilet floors is a surefire way to contract plantar warts caused by the human papilloma virus. Molluscum contagiosum is another viral infection that can get transmitted through close contact, though the transmission rate is higher in children than in adults.
Mite Infestations in Soccer Players
Close contact with other players and fans put the soccer players at risk of contracting mite infestations like scabies and body lice.
Itchy bumps seen on body areas like the finger web spaces, wrists and genitals, and aggravation of the itching during the night and presence of the nocturnal itch in other family members are diagnostic of scabies. Body lice are demonstrable at the root of the hair shaft as black dots.
Signs and Symptoms of Skin Infections and Infestations in Football Players
In the fungal infections and mite infestations, itching is the prominent presenting symptom in addition to the typical skin rashes and bumps. Body folds and interdigital spaces between the toes are the favored sites for the ring worm infestations.
Redness, pain and swelling characterize the bacterial infections while the typical water-filled grouped blisters with a burning sensation and pain is characteristic of herpes simplex infections or cold sores.
A thorough physical examination is mandatory for the football players and participants of similar group games in order to prevent community transmission of potentially harmful skin infections.
Prevention and Management of Skin Infections in Soccer Players: Related Articles
- Soccer Itches: Occupational Skin Diseases in Football Players
- Management of Bacterial Skin Infections in Soccer Players
- Management of Fungal and Viral Infections in Soccer Players
References:
- Begier ME et al. A High-Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College Football Team, Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2004; 39:1446–53
- Susan E Manning et al. Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infection in High School Football Players, New York City, 2003.Emerging Infectious Diseases. www.cdc.gov/eid. 11:1:146-149, 2005
- Goodman RA et al. Infectious diseases in competitive sports. JAMA.1994; 271: 862–7.
- Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, 7th Edition, 2004
Disclaimer
The information given in this article is for educational purposes only so that patients are aware of the options available. No diagnosis should be made or treatment undertaken without first consulting your doctor. If you do so, Dr.Hanish Babu, MD or Suite101 will not be responsible for any consequences. The images provided are for illustration purposes only.
Hanish Babu - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a dermatologist and a feature writer on Suite101.com with more than 200 articles related to skin diseases on the ...
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