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Efinaconazole is a topical antifungal drug approved in Japan for tinea unguium. Although topical treatments generally have low cure rates with a prolonged therapy period, a Cochrane review confirmed that high‐quality evidence supports the effectiveness of efinaconazole for the complete cure of tinea unguium. Combination therapy is a way to improve the cure rate of onychomycosis. In this study, topical efinaconazole was administrated to 12 patients who had been treated with oral terbinafine (125 mg daily) for more than 20 weeks with little expected effect. Because terbinafine accumulates for a long time in the nail, treatment immediately followed by other drugs can be considered sequential combination therapy. During terbinafine monotherapy, the percentage involvement decreased from 53.5% to 44.0% after 37.4 weeks and the effective and cure rates were 16.7% and 0%, respectively. During sequential topical efinaconazole therapy combined with lasting terbinafine in the nail, the percentage involvement decreased from 44.0% to 18.7% after 28.4 weeks, and the effective and cure rates were 66.7% and 16.7%, respectively. The improvement rate per month of combination therapy (12.6%) was higher than that with monotherapy (2.1%) (p = 0.002). There were no serious side‐effects. This sequential combination therapy with efinaconazole was effective in poor terbinafine responders, making it a promising regimen for improving the cure rate of tinea unguium.

Fusarium onychomycosis is uncommon in the temperate climate zone of Japan. Based on the morphological characteristics and a gene analysis, we diagnosed a patient with ungual hyalohyphomycosis caused by Fusarium cugenangense belonging to the F oxysporum complex. This intractable disease was cured by 6‐month treatment with efinaconazole 10% solution.

Fosravuconazole is a novel oral antifungal drug developed in Japan and used to treat tinea unguium since 2018. Its excellent oral absorbability and systemic bioavailability has enabled short-duration therapy of 3 months. Furthermore, no concomitant drugs are contraindicated due to the presence of the mild inhibitor of cytochrome P450 enzyme which is responsible for polypharmacy adverse effects. Therefore, it can be safely administrated to elderly patients. Elderly patients (≥65 years old) with severe onychomycosis (≥50% nail involvement) were treated with oral fosravuconazole 100 mg once daily for 12 weeks. The rate of involvement improved from 86.6% to 28.1% (P < 0.01). The efficacy (i.e. percentage of those rated as "improved" and better) and cure rate was 83.8% (31/37) and 29.7% (11/37), respectively. Furthermore, when focusing on the thin nail group (

Hand eczema (HE) is a common skin disease that impairs health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Impairments in HRQOL have already been reported in Japanese HE patients using the Skindex-16. Recently, an instrument to measure disease-specific HRQOL in HE patients was developed by an international expert group, consisting of domains for: (i) symptoms; (ii) emotions; (iii) functioning; and (iv) treatment and prevention. The objective of this study is to translate the English-language version of the Quality of Life Hand Eczema Questionnaire (QOLHEQ) to Japanese and then to validate the Japanese version. The Japanese version of the QOLHEQ, the Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) and a questionnaire regarding basic demographic information, including patient ratings of HE severity, were distributed to Japanese HE patients. Additionally, a dermatologist evaluated patients' HE severity using the Physician Global Assessment. A total of 124 patients with a mean age of 43.7 years were included in the analysis, and 78% of the sample was female. Cronbach's alphas for the domains symptoms, emotions, functioning, and treatment and prevention were 0.76, 0.89, 0.88 and 0.81, respectively. The total QOLHEQ score showed a strong correlation with the DLQI, a moderate correlation with patient-rated severity and weak correlations with dermatologist-rated severity and the number of consultations. The Japanese version of the QOLHEQ showed excellent reliability and high validity. The Japanese version of the QOLHEQ is ready for use in epidemiological studies to evaluate HRQOL impairments in HE patients.

We describe a case of a 23-year-old female patient with no apparent underlying diseases. She showed a discoloration of the proximal portion of the left big toenail with paronychia. Direct microscopy revealed septate hyphae with conidiophores, and a periodic acid-Schiff-stained nail specimen revealed septate hyphae branching at angles of approximately 45°. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, we finally arrived at the diagnosis of ungual aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus subramanianii. After p.o. administration of terbinafine and topical application of 10% efinaconazole solution, the disease resolved in 6 months. A. subramanianii is one of the new species in the genus Aspergillus section Circumdati. Reported clinical isolates have been isolated from lung tissue, wounds and feet. This is the first documented case of onychomycosis caused by A. subramanianii. Onychomycosis due to Aspergillus species is uncommon. We summarized the reported cases of ungual aspergillosis in Japan.

We treated tinea unguium (onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes) patients with efinaconazole 10% solution. All patients with tinea unguium who tested positive for fungi in fingernails and toenails, regardless of age or severity, were eligible for the treatment. The number of patients was 106, consisting of 43 men and 63 women with a mean age of 66.7 years. The patients were treated with efinaconazole for a mean treatment duration of 38.1 weeks. Therapeutic efficacy was rated on a 5-point scale as follows: "cured", "markedly improved", "improved", "slightly improved" or "no change". A single nail was selected in each patient as the target nail. Selected nails were the big toenails with less than 50% involvement in 25 patients, the big toenails with 50% or more involvement in 52 patients, the fingernails in 10 patients and the second to fifth toenails in 19 patients with a mean treatment duration of 43.9, 38.1, 38.7 and 33.7 weeks, respectively. All groups showed an improvement in the percentage involvement from 30.6% to 9.8%, 77.6% to 35.7%, 82.7% to 17.6% and 80.3% to 15.5%, respectively (P < 0.01). The improvement rate (i.e. percentage of those rated as improved and better) was 76.0%, 65.4%, 80.0% and 89.5%, respectively. Efinaconazole 10% topical solution is beneficial for patients, regardless of age, severity or clinical type.

An 85-year-old Japanese woman presented with infiltrative erythema and ulceration on the extensor surface of her right forearm. Direct microscopic examination demonstrated spherical and morula-like sporangia, while histopathology revealed numerous microorganisms with a mulberry-like appearance in the dermis. Staining of the microorganisms also showed mulberry-like sporangia that resembled the spokes of a wheel. The isolated yeast-like microorganism had been identified as Prototheca wickerhamii genotype 2 in another independent study on the basis of its morphological, biochemical and genetic analysis. This case of protothecosis was recorded in Kyushu, Japan, and oral treatment with itraconazole 200 mg/day for 2 months was effective. Herein, we also summarize and analyze 39 cases of human protothecosis reported in Japan since the first record in 1983.

A 73-year-old healthy woman noticed black pigmentation on both thumbnails for 6 years. Upon her visit to our clinic, she had pigmented onychomycosis with onycholysis in the distal area. There was no evidence of paronychia. Direct microscopy using Zoomblue™ and histopathological examination showed aggregated blastoconidia. Fontana-Masson staining confirmed fungal melanin production. A combination of morphological features and genetic testing identified the isolates as Candida parapsilosis. Fungal melanonychia due to C. parapsilosis is rare, with only six cases reported since 1979. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the isolates was 0.25 μg/mL for itraconazole, less than 0.03 μg/mL for ravuconazole and 2.0 μg/mL for terbinafine. Both oral terbinafine treatment and itraconazole pulse therapy performed for 6 months were unsuccessful. The disease was ultimately cured with a 3-month treatment of oral fosravuconazole.

A 68-year-old male plasterer with no history of trauma presented to our clinic in March 2012 with a 16×14-mm ulcer that developed following a crushed small papule on the right anterior chest. In April 2012, the patient was referred to another hospital, where cutaneous cryptococcosis was diagnosed based on discharge culture results. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole at a dose of 150 mg/day for 10 weeks; however, the ulcer remained unchanged and he discontinued the treatment. In May 2014, when he revisited our clinic, the ulcer with crust had grown to 29×13 mm. No regional lymph node swelling was noted. India ink staining showed a yeast-like fungus with a thick, clear capsule. A cream-colored, viscous yeast-like colony was observed on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Genetic testing identified the isolate as Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A. The patient was negative for serum cryptococcal antigen. Neither chest radiography nor computed tomography revealed any abnormalities. The patient had no underlying disease. Oral fluconazole (400 mg/day for 12 weeks) was prescribed, resulting in scar formation. The patient has remained free of relapse for one year to date, since the end of treatment. Localized cutaneous cryptococcosis is not a commonly used disease name overseas. However, 36 cases of this disease have been reported in Japan (since in 1968). We herein report a new case with localized cutaneous cryptococcosis and summarize previously reported cases in Japan.

A 56-year-old woman on insulin therapy for diabetes visited our clinic due to whitish discoloration on the right index finger. Despite topical application of 1% lanoconazole solution, the lesion grew, causing paronychia. Direct microscopy revealed non-dermatophyte molds. Based on the morphological features and genetic analysis of the isolate, the pathogen was identified as Aspergillus flavus. The patient was diagnosed with proximal subungual onychomycosis due to A. flavus. Following itraconazole pulse therapy, she was cured in 6 months. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of fingernail onychomycosis due to A. flavus in Japan.

We investigated the efficacy of 1064nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes. The study population consisted of 12 patients (6 male, 6 female ; average age 53.5 years), with onychomycosis confirmed by fungal culture and/or real-time PCR identification of the pathogen. The causative agent was identified as Trichophyton rubrum in 11 cases and a mixture of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes in 1 case. For each patient, laser treatment was given to a single hallux nail, with turbidity at baseline affecting75% of the nail surface and thickness at baseline3mm. Treatment was given in 3 sessions at 4-week intervals, and nail turbidity was evaluated 3 and 6 months after the first laser treatment. After 6 months the efficacy results were as follows: 3 cases, turbidity significantly improved (70%) ; 2 cases, turbidity improved (50-70%), 1 case, turbidity slightly improved (30-50%) ; 5 cases, no change in turbidity (30% improvement) ; and 1 case, turbidity worsened. Overall, the total lesion area with turbidity in 12 patients decreased from 664.4mm(2) to 481.0mm(2), corresponding to a 27.6% improvement after treatment. Pain during laser treatment was well tolerated, and all patients underwent all 3 treatments. These results suggest that the 1064nm Nd:YAG laser could be a useful treatment alternative for patients with mild onychomycosis.

Onychomyosis caused by Aspergillus sydowii is rare and difficult to diagnose. We report a case in which this disease was diagnosed by molecular-biological methods. The patient was a 53-year-old woman without any notable past history. She visited our hospital complaining of itching around the right first toenail in June 2010, although she had noticed nail opacification for 4 years. Opaque thickening of the nail, covering 57.3% of the normal nail area, was observed. Direct microscopic examination revealed thick mycelia with septa and black spores. While colonies with a red brown center and a grayish blue-green margin were observed in culture on Sabouraud ' s glucose agar at 25℃, radially arranged conidia in the conidial head were observed in slide culture. Thus, onychomycosis caused by Aspergillus was suspected. There were no blood or biochemical test abnormalities. We directly extracted deoxyribonucleic acid from the nail and analyzed the base sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 regions of the ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene, and identified Aspergillus sydowii. Because the minimal inhibitory concentration of itraconazole (ITCZ) is 0.25 μg/ml, we administered pulse therapy with monthly 1-week cycles of oral ITCZ 400 mg / day for 3 consecutive months. The opaque area subsided to 17. 9% of the normal nail by 6 months after treatment completion. However, 3 months later, the opaque area increased again to 22. 3%, and the same fungus was isolated and identified. The 3-month ITCZ pulse therapy was repeated and the symptoms disappeared, with complete cure achieved by 3 months after the second therapy.

2005年5月からの4年間に熊本の一診療所で経験されたT. tonsuransによる白癬の13例を報告した。年齢は11歳から18歳までの男性で，中学3例，高校8例の柔道部員が11例，兄が柔道部1例，小学生レスリング選手1例であった。臨床型は頭部白癬が6例(black dot型4例，炎症型2例)，体部白癬が8例(顔5例，上腕1例，胸1例，大腿1例)で，頭部白癬と体部白癬の合併例が1例あった。全例にヘアブラシ検査を行った。ヘアブラシ検査陽性の体部白癬と頭部白癬の6例は塩酸テルビナフィン(TBF)の内服治療により2～3ヵ月後に菌は陰性化した。さらに症例の所属する7団体125名の調査で15例(12.0％)がヘアブラシ検査陽性であった。本症の治療及び公衆衛生的な管理のために，一診療所の役割について考察した。

We used pocket warmers and infrared and far infrared rays to treat 14 cases of sporotrichosis, 7 in children and 7 in adults. There were 9 cases of the fixed cutaneous type and 5 of the lymphocutaneous type; 6 were located on the face and 8 on the limbs. Four cases were treated with pocket warmers, 5 with infrared rays, and 5 with far infrared rays. All lesions treated with pocket warmers were facial lesions in children; infrared and far infrared ray treatments were used in 3 children and 7 adults, 2 on facial lesions and 8 on lesions on the extremities. In treatments with infrared and far infrared rays, the amount of heat was greater than with the pocket warmers, and one 15-min treatment daily was sufficient to yield satisfactory results, but this method is difficult to use on children and on the face, and 40-min treatments two or three times a week proved unsatisfactory. Infrared and far infrared ray treatments allow the length of a single treatment to be reduced by three-quarters, in comparison with one pocket warmer treatment.

From March 2008 through February 2014, 80 patients aged 1-95 years (43 men and 37 women) were diagnosed with tinea faciei by a rural Japanese clinic. The affected sites were the cheek in 42 patients (52.5%), the auricles and area surrounding the auricles in 16 (20.0%), and the mandible in 12 (15.0%); 33 patients (41.2%) had concurrent ringworm in areas other than the face. Twenty-one patients (26.3%) had applied topical steroids to treat a rash. The pathogen responsible for tinea faciei was Trichophyton rubrum in 35 patients (43.7%), T. tonsurans in 19 (23.8%), T. mentagrophytes in 3 (3.8%), T. verrucosum in 2 (2.5%), T. violaceum in 2 (2.5%), Microsporum canis in 17 (21.3%), and M. gypseum in 2 (2.5%). Clinical symptoms were divided into three groups based on the severity of inflammation and the extent of lesions and scored in points. Anthropophilic dermatophytes resulted in a score of 1.82 points for the severity of inflammation and a score of 1.84 points for the extent of lesions while zoophilic dermatophytes resulted in a score of 2.14 points for the severity of inflammation and a score of 1.50 points for the extent of lesions. This indicates that anthropophilic fungi resulted in less inflammation and broader lesions, whereas zoophilic fungi resulted in more intense inflammation and smaller lesions. Patients who had applied topical steroids had a mean score of 1.90 points for the severity of inflammation and a mean score of 2.10 points for the extent of lesions. Patients who had not applied topical steroids had a mean score of 1.95 points for the severity of inflammation and a mean score of 1.59 points for the extent of lesions. The severity of inflammation did not differ significantly. However, lesions were significantly broader in patients who had applied topical steroids than in those who had not applied topical steroids (plt; 0.04). The severity of tinea faciei is a useful index for the clinical diagnosis of tinea faciei.

A 28-year-old man undergoing treatment for hemophagocytic syndrome developed Paecilomyces lilacinus infection in skin ulcers on the face and in the tracheotomy stoma. While his bone marrow was suppressed by chemotherapy with dexamethasone, cyclosporin and etoposide for hemophagocytic syndrome, dental infection led to subacute necrotizing fasciitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the right side of the face, resulting in a large area of soft tissue defects. Etoposide was discontinued, and prophylactic treatment with itraconazole was initiated. The ulcers resulting from necrotizing fasciitis were treated conservatively using trafermin and alprostadil alfadex ointment 0.003 %, and near-complete re-epithelialization occurred, except on the right lower eyelid, right buccal mucosa and perioral area. However, 6 weeks later, pustules/crusts started to form and break down repeatedly, leading to expansion of tissue defects on the face. Direct microscopic examination revealed fungal elements, and fungal culture identified Paecilomyces lilacinus suspicious twice some other day. Based on DNA extraction from the isolated fungus, this fungal strain was identified as Paecilomyces lilacinus. Cyclosporin and itraconazole were discontinued, and treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and a tapering dose of steroids was initiated. Cure was achieved in approximately 2.5 months after treatment initiation, and no relapse has been observed. The most important factor that ultimately contributed to the resolution of fungal infection might have been release of immunosuppression by discontinuing cyclosporin and tapering steroids.

A case of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis that had developed from the dorsum nasi to the left buccal region of a 65-year-old woman was treated with itraconazole 100 mg day -1 . The lesion healed in 10 weeks after starting treatment leaving crusts, mild erythema and pigmentation, and the treatment was completed 16 weeks after the start of treatment. Neither adverse reactions nor abnormal clinical laboratory values were noted. Until the present time, 1 year and 2 months after the completion of treatment, no recurrence has been observed. In Japan, 43 cases of sporotrichosis have been treated with itraconazole, and 38 cases (88%) have been assessed as effective or better. The mean dose of itraconazole and the mean duration of administration are 100 mg day -1 and 11 weeks, respectively, in these reported Japanese cases. The use of itraconazole is expected to be one of the effective therapies for sporotrichosis.

Summary. The conditions surrounding tinea pedis infection were surveyed—the degrees of infection and of aggravation attendant upon training, and the skin temperature within the leather boots of members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces undergoing winter and summer ranger training. Before winter training, tinea pedis was diagnosed in 8 of the 15 subjects. The mean atmospheric temperature was 7.1°C, the total precipitation, 23 mm, and the mean skin temperature of the feet during training, 33.7 °C. After training, 1 further subject had contracted tinea pedis, 5 of the 8 showed slight aggravation, and 3 showed no change. Before summer training, tinea pedis was found in 9 of another 15 subjects. The mean atmospheric temperature was 20.0 °C, total rainfall, 353 mm, and the mean skin temperature of the feet during training, 36.6 °C. After the training, aggravation had occurred in 3 of the 9, and slight aggravation in the other 6. In these 9, vesiculation, pustules and erosion were seen, so that summer training had a more severe effect than winter training. Investigation of the predisposing factors for tinea pedis due to the wearing of boots and shoes is considered extremely important for the prevention and treatment of this disease. Zusammenfassung. Wir untersuchten die Bedingungen beim Auftreten von Fusflechte (Tinea pedis), das Ausmas der Infektion und der Verschlechterung des Zustandes wahrend der Ausbildung sowie die Hauttemperatur in Lederstiefeln bei Mitgliedern der japanischen Selbstverteidigungstruppe wahrend der Ausbildung im Winter und Sommer. Vor Beginn der Winterausbildung wurde Fusflechte bei 8 von 15 Probanden festgestellt. Die Durchschnittstemperatur der Luft war 7.1 °C, der Gesamtniederschlag 23 mm: die durchschnittliche Hauttemperatur des Fuses wahrend der Ausbildungzeit lag bei 33.7 °C. Nach der Ausbildung hatte sich eine weitere Person Fusflechte zugezogen, 5 der 8 Personen zeigten eine geringe Verschlechterung und 3 Personen keine Veranderungen. Vor der Sommerausbildung fand sich Fusflechte bei 9 von 15 Personen einer anderen Probandengruppe. Die Durchschnittstemperatur lag bei 20 °C. und der Gesamtniederschlag bei 353 mm; die durchschnittliche Hauttemperatur des Fuses wahrend der Ausbildungzeit lag bei 36.6 °C. Nach der Ausbildung zeigte sich eine Verschlechterung bei 3 von 9 und geringe Verschlechterung bei 6 Probanden. Bei den 9 Fallen fanden sich Blasen, Pusteln und Geschwure; die Ausbildung im Sommer fuhrte daher zu schwerwiegenderen Verschlechterungen als die im Winter. Fur die Pravention und Behandlung der Fusflechte erachten wir Untersuchungen uber pradisponierende Faktoren durch das Tragen von Stiefeln und Schuhen besonders wichtig.

爪白癬に対するfluconazoleの週1回100mg内服療法の有効性,有用性および安全性について検討した.対象は爪白癬患者18例で,内訳は足趾爪14例,手指爪4例である.治療は本剤を週1回,100mg内服させ経時的に臨床症状を観察し24週間目にその効果を判定した.臨床効果は,著効8例(44.4%),有効8例(44.4%),やや有効1例(5.6%),無効1例(5.6%)であった.副作用および臨床検査値の異常は認められなかった.有効以上および有用以上の有効率および有用率は,両者とも18例中16例で88.9%であった.爪白癬に対してfluconazoleは,副作用もなく,また週1回投与でも優れた治療効果が得られる有用な薬剤と考えた.

We treated three patients with Bowen's disease for 3 months with local hyperthermia with chemical pocket warmers. The clinical courses were marked by the following changes: by the second or third week of treatment, the nodular lesions had become flattened and the erythematous and infiltrated lesions showed a considerable reduction, and by weeks 5 and 6 the lesions had become almost entirely pigmented. Post-treatment histopathological examination revealed several tumour cells remaining in case 1, and an absence of tumour cells in case 2; but in case 3 no pathological tests were possible. The results of the therapy were not perfect, but the technique is extremely promising for the treatment of Bowen's disease.

Twenty-five cases of dermatophytoses caused by Microsporum canis were encountered during a 3-year period (January 2008-December 2010). Their diagnosis was based on detection of fungal elements by direct microscopy and identification of M. canis by fungal culture. There were 17 women and 8 men ; they ranged in age from 4 to 85 years (mean, 34.6). The affected site was the head (n=5), face (n=8), neck (n=5), arm (n=8), leg (n=5), and trunk (n=5) ; exposed sites were those most often affected. A lone eruption was seen in 13 and multiple eruptions in 12 patients. The disease type was tinea corporis in 21 patients, tinea capitis in 5, and a combination of tinea corporis and tinea capitis in one. The disease showed familial onset in 10 patients (5 pairs), including 2 sibling pairs, 2 mother-child pairs, and 1 grandmother-granddaughter pair. Twenty-four patients had a history of contact with animals, and animals kept at home may have served as the infection source (cats in 23 patients and a dog in one). Hairbrush culture of the pets was positive in 9 patients. The patients with a lone eruption were treated with topical antifungal agents, while those with multiple eruptions of tinea capitis and tinea corporis were treated with oral itraconazole or terbinafine hydrochloride for 2-14 weeks, combined with topical antifungal therapy. Although reports of dermatophytoses caused by M. canis have been decreasing, our experience indicates the necessity of considering possible transmission of this disease from pets such as cats.

Twelve cases of tinea capitis were encountered at a clinic in Kumamoto prefecture between April 2004 and December 2008. Patients were boys aged between 2 and 18 in 11 cases, and a woman aged 50 years in 1 case. The pathogen was Microsporum canis in 6 cases, and Trichophyton tonsurans in 6 cases. In the cases with M. canis , patients were boys aged 2 to 8 years in 5 cases, and the type of disease was non-inflammatory in 5 cases and inflammatory in 1 case. The patients with T. tonsurans were boys aged 12 to 18 years (judo athletes in 5 cases) and the type of disease was inflammatory in 2 cases and black dot in 4 cases. Three of the M. canis cases were treated with oral administration of itraconazole (ITCZ) at doses of 2.4-4.0 mg/kg/day, and the other 3 with terbinafine hydrochloride (TBF) at doses of 2.6-4.6 mg/kg/day. The duration of treatment was 8-14 weeks with ITCZ, and 4-8 weeks with TBF. In the T. tonsurans cases, TBF was orally administered at doses of 1.4-2.4 mg/kg/day for a period of 8-12 weeks. In one case of non-inflammatory M. canis infection (Case 6) and one case of inflammatory T. tonsurans infection (Case 10), treatment was initiated with the dose recommended in Japan, but symptoms did not improve; therefore the dose was doubled according to European and American guidelines and the patients recovered. As tinea capitis frequently resists treatment, establishment of treatment guidelines is necessary.

A clinical study was conducted to determine the efficacy of terbinafine cream in severe cases of tinea pedis. The subjects were 21 men, members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces who were judged to have severe symptoms of tinea pedis. The description 'severe' was defined as 'considered to require the concurrent internal administration of antifungals for complete cure', or as meeting criterion 5 or 6 for the severity of tinea pedis. A simple surface application of terbinafine cream was given once daily, the subjects' clinical manifestations, mycological cure rates and safety-related changes were observed, and a final assessment was made in the 12th week. In the final assessment, the improvement rate of the cutaneous symptoms was 95.2%, and the fungal eradication and efficacy rates were 81.0%. As for side-effects, one patient complained of local irritation. These results suggested that terbinafine cream is a beneficial topical antifungal cream for severe tinea pedis.

We examined the relationship between prevalence and severity of tinea pedis and the length of service and the width of the spaces between the toes in 74 members of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) undergoing special training. The subjects were divided according to the width of these spaces into: group I, wide; group II, fairly wide; and group III, closed. The severity of tinea pedis was determined by its duration and the extent of the lesions in the 49 subjects who had tinea pedis. The combined prevalence of tinea pedis and tinea unguium was 66%. There was a tendency for the prevalence to be higher in subjects who had served for 10 years or more in the SDF than in those with fewer than 10 years of service. Classified by the disposition of their toes, 10 subjects fell into group I, 34 into group II, and 30 into group III. The prevalence of 90% (27/30) in group III was significantly higher than in the other groups. A significant positive correlation was seen between length of SDF service and severity. Subjects with both a long service record and closed interdigital spaces showed both a high prevalence and marked severity.