Abstract

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF SINGLE DOSE ITRACONAZOLE VERSUS FLUCONAZOLE IN TINEA VERSICOLOR

 Siddeshwara M. G.*, Santoshkumar R. Jeevangi, Ashok S. Hogade and Manjunath H.

Abstract

Background: Tinea versicolor is one of the most common superficial fungal infections of the skin, caused by Malassezia furfur. It is characterized by a macule covered with brany scales, predominantly on trunk and upper arms. Topical therapy as first line treatment ranging from selenium sulfide to imidazole‟s can be curative. Itraconazole and fluconazole have revolutionized the treatment in tinea versicolor both in single and divided doses. Objectives: To study and compare the efficacy and tolerability of Itraconazole versus Fluconazole. Methods: The study was conducted on 100 newly diagnosed patients of tinea versicolor of either sex attending Dermatology outpatient department at Basaveshwara Teaching and General Hospital, Kalaburagi. They were alternatively allocated in to either group A or group B with 50 patients in each group. Group A patients received oral Itraconazole (1000 mg stat) and group B patients received oral Fluconazole (400 mg stat). They were evaluated both clinically as well as mycologically. Results: Clinical cure in group A was 60% and in group B it was 80%, the difference is considered statistically significant (p=0.029, p<0.05). Mycological cure in group A was 56% and in group B it was 82% the difference is statistically highly significant with a p value of 0.005 (p<0.01). Complete cure in group A was 56% and in group B it was 80%, this difference between the two groups is also statistically significant (p=0.01, p<0.05). Both the drugs were well tolerated without any serious adverse reactions. Interpretation and Conclusion: Single dose fluconazole is more efficacious compared to itraconazole in the treatment of tinea versicolor. Both itraconazole and fluconazole were well tolerated without any serious adverse effects.

Keywords: „Fluconazole?, „Itraconazole?, „Tinea versicolor (TV)?.