Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Releases National Survey Results on Children's Foot Odor: Is It Actually 'Smellier Than Dad's'?

Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. conducted a 'Survey on Children's Foot Odor and Foot Care' targeting 1,570 parents across Japan with children aged 3 to 15. The survey revealed that children are the primary source of foot odor in the family, ranking higher than fathers. The foul odor is caused by 'proliferated bacteria,' a fact that many parents are unaware of. Furthermore, it was found that few households have established the habit of washing feet immediately upon returning home, with many delaying it until bath time. The survey results were supervised by Dr. Takashi Eto, Chairman of the Japanese Clinical Dermatological Association and Deputy Director of Atago Dermatology. The survey highlighted that 29.4% of respondents identified their children's feet as the most concerning. While 40.7% cited 'sweat' and 25.9% cited 'stuffy shoes or socks' as causes, 68.4% of parents did not know that bacteria were the root cause. Only 23.7% of families wash their children's feet immediately after returning home. Dr. Eto emphasizes that 'foot washing' is essential for odor prevention and should be adopted as a new hygiene habit alongside hand washing and gargling.