Question
Is athlete's foot related to HIV?
1 October 2009. Related: All topics, Complications and coinfections, Drug interactions, Opportunistic infections.
Hi
I have recurring Althletes foot, could this be down to my HIV+ status?
Also my pharmacist has prescribed more lamisil cream to treat it. Once a day. Does this have any interactions with my medication? – i am currently taking Sustiva and Kivexa.
I am currently undetectable but cant see to shift this fungal infection and would be grateful for any advice.
Answer
Hi
If you are not on HIV treatment, as your CD4 declines, skin problems (sometimes related to fungal infections like athlete’s foot) can be some of the first HIV-related symptoms. These can occur when your CD4 count is still relatively strong, at a CD4 count of 300 or higher. When on treatment, as your CD4 count rises above 300-400 then they should become less common.
However, athlete’s foot is very common in the general population, so it may also be unrelated to your HIV status.
Treatment should be the same as for an HIV-negative person. In this case you could try the long-lasting lamosil where one application provides protection for a month, rather than the once-daily cream. If the problem continues, ask for a referral to a specialist in case another infection is responsible.
There are no interactions between these creams and your HIV medications.
The article on this medical site is a good general overview.
Good luck.
Hi Yapang – thanks – HIV positive people can do all jobs and activities – it is good to know you are an athlete :)
I’m an athlete patient
I had always been susceptible to Athletes foot but when I became HIV+ it became much, much worse. After talking to my clinic, they advised me to ask my local GP for Terbinafine (or oral lamisil) and to continue with it for about 4-6months. I’ve been taking the tablets for 4mthns now and although it has significantly improved,it is still there. My clinic doc has seen many cases where it can take up to a year for a HIV+ patient to get rid of their Athlete’s foot. It’s something to do with the HIV meds interferring with the Athlete’s foot meds & slowing them down. It’s nothing too serious and as you say, has no interaction with HIV meds or is a problem with your liver function. Hey! It’s just one more tablet to remember to take!
Hi,
I had a similar problem recently and after trying Lamisil and Mycil I was prescribed Nizoral which cleared the Athletes foot after 2 weeks diligent application and almost 2 weeks additional use to make sure was completely cleared. Sometimes it just takes using a different anti fungal – hope this helps!