There are several types of infections that children, adolescents and adults can be exposed to in the world of sports. Some are superficial, whereas some may pose a high health risk.
It is important to outline the most common types of infections that parents may come across as their children get involved in different sports activities and what they may be exposed to, even at school.
Bacteria, fungi and some viruses can cause infections. Some infections can be obtained externally via foreign sources to the body, and the human body itself can cause some infections.
The human body has microflora – natural and healthy amounts of bacteria and fungi that are found on the skin and in the body, which are usually beneficial to the body. Without those microflora, the body would not be able to naturally preserve and protect itself against foreign invaders, and contribute to other health factors in the body.
However, microflora can pose a threat to one’s health. When certain microflora begin to overgrow, they begin to do the opposite of protection and begin to cause infection; at this point, the body’s natural defences are compromised.
Fungal Infections (Mycosis)
Fungal infections are caused by either yeast or moulds and most commonly appear on the skin or nails, which are usually treatable and have a low impact on health. Fungal infections can also appear orally, on mucosal membranes such as the reproductive organs, and internally such as the throat and lungs. The causes and severity of these infections vary depending on the type of fungus that is causing the infection and the site of the infection. However, the main reason for fungal infections is due to certain areas of the body being exposed to excess moisture and friction. Some contagious fungal infections are spread through fungal spores spreading from one location to another.
Skin & Nails
The skin and nails are the most common sites of infections in people, especially those who engage in different types of sports such as rugby, football, and swimming. Tinea is a genus of Fungi that causes a majority of skin and nail infections in children and adults and is easily treatable.
Athlete’s Foot
This infection is caused by a fungus called Tinea pedis which is most common in rugby players and footballers as their feet are confined to tight warm moisture-filled areas (due to sweat) over long periods – in this case, football, and rugby boots.
- Prevention:
-Feet washing/cleansing after practices or matches
-Keep the feet dry whenever possible
-Limit closed footwear
-Allow air to feet
- Treatment:
-Anti-fungal foot sprays, can be accessed over the counter, alongside antifungal creams, and cleansers.
Ringworm
There are over 40 different species of fungi that can cause ringworms, which can appear in different areas of the body. However, the most common in children between the ages of 2 to 10 are ringworms on the scalp – caused by a fungus called Tinea capitis.
Scalp Ringworm – appears as a round patch of scaly, flaky skin that causes itching and temporarily limits hair growth at the site of infection. It is spread via skin-to-skin contact, animal, or sometimes object-to-skin. The most common way is skin-to-skin contact. Ringworm outbreaks are most common in schools where children are in constant contact with one another. This is a superficial infection that is easily treatable and poses a low risk to health.
- Prevention:
-Avoid sharing personal items with others
-Enhance personal hygiene, especially when handling animals and objects that may have been handled by other people, e.g. a rugby ball is passed from one individual to another.
- Treatment:
-medically prescribed antifungal medication, which is taken orally (scalp ringworm cannot be treated using antifungal creams/gels/ointments)
Body Ringworm – caused by Tinea corporis can appear anywhere on the skin except the hands, feet and scalp. It is common in both children and adults and is contagious. It is spread via skin-to-skin contact with infected skin, objects, and animals, with the main cause of infection being friction and moisture trapping at the site of the infection.
- Prevention:
-Avoid sharing personal items with others
-Enhance personal hygiene, especially while handling animals and objects that may be touched by others e.g., a rugby ball is passed from one individual to another.
-Treat pets at home if infected with ringworms to prevent spreading
- Treatment:
-Apply over-the-counter antifungal creams, ointments, or gels at the site of infection
‘Jock Itch’ – caused by Tinea cruris, a species of Tinea that most commonly infects men but can also infect women. This infection appears between the groin, buttocks, and scrotum. This is due to moisture being trapped between the thighs, combined with excessive friction therefore resulting in the stimulation of the fungal growth. Individuals who play sports that involve tight-fit clothing that prevents the release of moisture such as spandex, swim shorts and rugby shorts are at a higher risk of infection due to the nature of the sports. Although it is mostly common in male athletes, children are also prone to infection – appearing on the inner thighs and buttocks.
- Prevention:
-Avoid sharing towels or other personal items with individuals
-Avoid wearing tight-fit clothing or clothing that allows moisture to be trapped – find the correct fit
-Try to stay cool and dry
- Treatment:
-Over-the-counter antifungal creams or gels
Yeast Infections
Candida is a genus of fungi that is the culprit for yeast infections – commonly known as thrush. Thrush infects the skin and mucosal membranes in the body such as the mouth and sexual reproductive organs (vaginal yeast infections). Candida albicans is a species of fungi that naturally lives on the surface of the skin as part of the human microflora and is the most common cause of yeast infections. An infection develops when it overgrows therefore causing redness, itching and irritation at the site of the infection. In young girls and women, vaginal thrush is triggered due to friction against tight clothing, certain types of underwear material that trap moisture, washing the area with soaps or harsh chemicals and more. Vaginal thrush can be extremely uncomfortable as it causes itching, redness, and inflammation and changes the consistency of discharge into a cottage cheese-like consistency. As a girl/woman in rugby, there can often be different types of kit that can constrict the area, trapping moisture and causing friction.
Oral thrush, although uncommon in adults, can still affect people of all age groups. Mouth guards worn in rugby are an easy breeding ground for bacteria and fungi to grow and get trapped if not maintained and cleaned properly – therefore causing oral thrush and other infections. Lack of oral hygiene and maintenance of mouthguards will stimulate the growth of Candida and result in infection.
- Prevention:
-Avoid tight-fitted clothing (young children/teenagers/adults)
-Allowing air into the private area
-Wearing cotton underwear
-Changing sanitary pads/panty liners frequently
-Sterilising mouthguards frequently
-Maintaining oral hygiene
- Treatment:
-Prescribed antifungal oral gel rubbed gently around the mouth with clean hands (oral thrush)
-Over-the-counter antifungal creams/ointments (vaginal thrush)
For further information, please visit www.nhs.uk
