Tinea

Posted by Trish on July 19, 1999 at 18:01:32
My 16 yr.old son recently developed Athlete's feet after a trip.  After a week he developed 2 spots on his knees.  I took him to a dermatologist who was puzzled.  He scraped and took samples to send for a lab exam.  He poked one of the spots with a q-tip.  He said it wasn't athlete's foot.  That night the spot blistered and became filled with clear fluid.  The doctor prescribed Keflex 500mg. 4 times a day for 10 days.  He said if it is bacterial it will respond.  It is responding.  I am wondering if athlete's foot can show up on the knee also? We haven't heard back from the doctor on the culture.  Can a bacteria cause skin eruptions? Thanks!

Posted by DERM M.D. ASR on July 19, 1999 at 19:56:54
Trish:
Sounds like impetigo (a bacterial infection) on the knee.  Keflex should do the job.  Check with your dermatologist --  I bet the culture showed staph germs, or maybe strep.
Fungus can affect the knee, but it would look like a scaly spot, rather than a blister.
Ah, the joys of mothering a 16-year-old!
Dr. R (my youngest is 22, a recovering fungusite)
Keywords: impetigo, bacteria, fungus, athlete's foot