Chapter 18, Problem 1MCQ

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Skin is a flexible and tough outer membrane, also known as cutaneous membrane. Skin contains numerous physical and chemical properties that makes it an important barrier against destructive pathogens. It restricts infection and disease unless it has been cut or broken. Cutaneous mycosis is a skin disorder which is caused due to fungal infection.

Answer to Problem 1MCQ

Correct answer:

An effective treatment for a cutaneous mycosis like tinea pedis would be miconazole. Therefore, option (b) is correct.

Option (b) is given as “miconazole”.

Explanation of Solution

Justify reasons for the correct statement:

Cutaneous mycoses generally called as ringworms, which are caused by a group of fungi collectively called dermatophytes. These mycoses mainly attack on the non-living epidermal tissues and their derivatives. All the conditions associated with these mycoses begin with the word ‘tinea’. Tinea pedis is a condition associated with the infection of foot. The effective treatment of tinea pedis includes the use of ointments containing miconazole, tolnaftate, itraconazole, and so on.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (a) is given as “penicillin”.

Penicillin acts as an antibiotic and it is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Tinea pedis is a fungal infection. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (c) is given as “griseofulvin”.

Griseofulvin is used to treat nail and skin infections caused by fungus, but not fungal infections associated with foot. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (d) is given as “doxycycline”.

Doxycycline is also used as an antibiotic to treat bacterial infections. Tenia pedis is a fungal infection. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Tenia pedis is included under cutaneous mycoses, and it is treated effectively with miconazole.