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Tinea pedis counselling — GPhC CRA MCQ

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ModerateInfectionsTinea pedis counsellingGPhC CRA

An otherwise healthy adult has pruritic peeling confined between the fourth and fifth toes, with no broken skin, spreading erythema or nail involvement. Which advice best accompanies terbinafine 1% cream?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: DApply terbinafine regularly, keep toe spaces dry and avoid shared towels

Apply terbinafine regularly, keep toe spaces dry and avoid shared towels: Localised interdigital tinea pedis is suitable for topical terbinafine, with adherence and hygiene measures reducing persistence and transmission. Apply terbinafine on symptomatic days and stop when pruritus first resolves: Intermittent symptom-led use risks incomplete eradication and recurrence. Apply terbinafine under an airtight dressing and change it each morning: Occlusion increases moisture, which favours fungal persistence and maceration. Apply terbinafine to skin and nails as a single definitive course: Topical skin cream does not reliably treat onychomycosis and nail disease requires separate assessment. Apply a potent corticosteroid first and terbinafine after inflammation settles: Corticosteroid monotherapy can mask or worsen fungal infection and is not routine treatment.

Reference: BNF: terbinafine: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/terbinafine/