Monsoon sets in and so do foot infections

This article has been published in Deccan Chronicle on Sept 12, 2008
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-->About 50 per cent of all non-traumatic amputations are due to diabetes-related foot ulcers.
-->Globally, an amputation is performed due to foot infection, every 30 seconds.
-->Patients should never walk bare foots, even inside the house. They should wear right footwear, preferably made of microcellular rubber.

With the onset of rain city doctors are witnessing a sharp upswing in the number of diabetics’ patients with foot infections-and a gross lack of awareness is to blame, they say.

“The feet are highly vulnerable to infection in diabetics due to a nervous condition called ‘neuropathy’ that causes loss of sensation,” said Dr Vijay Viswanathan, Diabetologist, MV Hospital for Diabetes, where at least two major amputation are performed everyday.

While 40 percent of all patients develop neuropathy within five to ten years of developing diabetes, smoking and excessive alcohol speed up the process.

The monsoon triggers a spurt of foot infection with people wading in water, and staying in wet shoes and shocks, inviting fungal infection between the toes. Patients who do not have their diabetes under control are the worst hit, as even a tiny pinprick can cause devastating damage. Infections like ‘athlete’s foot’ can be very harmful in a diabetes patient, as their healing capacity is low.

“Several patients get infected when they mistakenly cut into the skin, while trimming their toes nail. Diabetes with neuropathy should only file their nail do not cut them,” cautions Dr Ratnavel, Professor of Dermatology and Cosmetology, Stanley Medical College.

Wearing wrong footwear, not drying wet foot properly and walking bare foot even inside house are the most common reason for foot infections. A rise in the incidence of foot ulcer is also seen in summer, when people tend to visit temples, bare foot.

“Foot infections often recur, sometimes even thrice a year. Each time, the infected part has to be cut into, sutured and dressed. Hospitalization is required and the patient has to shell out a minimum of Rs 60,000. All for a condition that can be prevented with little care” Dr Vishwanathan concludes.

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