intertrigo

Introduction

Inflammation/infection of intertriginous spaces.

Etiology

• friction
• sweat retention
• moisture
• warmth
• concomittant overgrowth of resident microorganisms
  • commonly due to candidiasis or Staphylococcus
  • Trichophyton rubrum + T interdigitale, Tinea cruris

Epidemiology

• young children
• obese adults

Pathology

• Candida intertrigo is a superficial infection & does not cause systemic toxicity []

Clinical manifestations

• body folds (moist areas)
  • initial pustules on an erythematous base become eroded & confluent
  • progression to well-defined erythematous eroded patches with small pustular lesions at periphery is suggestive of candidiasis; Candida satellite lesions
  • does not spare scrotum
• interdigital (erosio interdigitalis blatomycetica)
  • initial pustule becomes eroded with formation of superficial erosion or fissure
  • may be surrounded by thickened white skin

* images

Differential diagnosis

• erythrasma
• Tinea cruris generally spares scrotum

Management

• keep area clean, dry
• benzoyl peroxide topical 2.5% diminishes overgrowth of resident microorganisms
• absorbase PRN
• topical glucocorticoid, hydrocortisone 1% PRN
  • topical antifungal agent can be added to topical glucocorticoid if candidiasis suspected.

More general terms

• skin disease (dermatologic disorder, dermatopathy, dermatosis)
• sign/symptom

Additional terms

• candidiasis
• intertriginous