Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Practice Test

What is the most appropriate medication in the treatment of tinea pedis?

1. Oral antipyretic

2. Topical antibiotic cream

3. Topical antimicrobial cream

4. Topical antifungal cream

The correct answer is: Topical antifungal cream

The appropriate medication for treating tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete's foot, is a topical antifungal cream. This condition is a fungal infection that specifically affects the skin of the feet, and its treatment focuses on eliminating the fungal pathogens responsible for the infection. Topical antifungal creams contain active ingredients like clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine, which are specifically designed to inhibit the growth of fungi. They target the root cause of the infection, effectively helping to alleviate symptoms such as itching, redness, and scaling associated with tinea pedis. While other types of medications, such as oral antipyretics and topical antibiotics, might be useful for different conditions or symptoms, they do not address the underlying fungal infection inherent to tinea pedis. Antipyretics are aimed at reducing fever, while antibiotics treat bacterial infections, making them unsuitable for this fungal issue.