[Burning feet]

Abstract

After walking barefoot over hot sand, a 75-year-old man developed second-degree burns on the soles of both feet. His case history revealed diabetes mellitus with diabetic polyneuropathy and macroangiopathy. Since wound healing was protracted, antibiotic treatment was initiated. Even after ten days of this, residual defects were still present. Diabetics walking barefoot over hot surfaces are highly prone to sufferfrom burns on the soles of the feet. In particular when such persons are about to go on holiday, they should be counseled to keep their feet dry, so as to reduce heat conduction, and to wear shoes when temperatures are high.