Best Practice Case Studies-Skin Infections

Pdf Summary

The document provides an overview of skin conditions affecting athletes, particularly those playing contact sports like football and wrestling. Athletes are susceptible to infections caused by viruses (e.g., Herpes simplex), fungi (e.g., ringworm), or bacteria (e.g., MRSA, impetigo) due to frequent close contact, exposed wounds, poor hygiene, and shared facilities or equipment. Contact or contaminated surfaces are common transmission methods.<br /><br />Symptoms of skin infections include rashes or lesions, which may appear itchy, painful, swollen, or reddish. They can bear distinctive patterns; for example, ringworm typically has a raised circular area, while impetigo might have a "honey-crusted" appearance. Infections could also lead to fever.<br /><br />Immediate reporting of new rashes to an athletic trainer, coach, or parent is crucial. If a skin infection is suspected, the athlete should consult a physician who can diagnose by appearance or through lab analysis of a scraping or sample. Treatment depends on the infection type and might involve topical creams, medication, or drainage of pus-filled infections.<br /><br />To prevent infections, athletes should cover wounds, shower after activities, wash uniforms after each use, and promptly report potential infections. They can resume play once the infection is treated and symptoms have subsided, following specific guidelines based on the infection type, with wrestling participants facing the strictest return-to-play rules owing to close skin contact.<br /><br />The information is backed by the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), an organization comprised of sports medicine physicians who focus on education, research, advocacy, and caring for athletes of all ages across various sports disciplines. For further resources, athletes are encouraged to visit the AMSSM website.

Meta Tag

Edition 3rd Edition

Related Case 3rd Edition, CASE 11

Topic Dermatology

Keywords

3rd Edition, CASE 11

3rd Edition

Dermatology

skin conditions

athletes

contact sports

infections

Herpes simplex

MRSA

ringworm

impetigo

prevention

AMSSM