A comparative study on efficacy of oral terbinafine and itraconazole on dermatophytic infections

Abstract

Background: The increased cases of dermatophyte infections and their poor response to oral drugs with current doses and duration of treatment is common. So, we conducted the study with a goal to assess the efficacies of two antifungal drugs with their increased dosages and duration. Methods: A prospective comparative study was done on 145 patients belonging to age group 18-60 years which were both clinically and microbiologically confirmed cases of tinea cruris and tinea corporis. Patients were randomized into two groups A and B. Group A patients were given capsule itraconazole 100 mg twice daily and group B were given tablet terbinafine 250 mg twice daily, both for 6 weeks. Patients were followed up at 2, 4 and 6 week and at each visit, scores for 3 parameters (erythema, scaling and pruritus) were recorded and were analysed. Results: A total 140 patients completed the study with 72 patients in group A and 73 patients in group B. In group A 72.5% patients achieved complete remission compared to 67.6% in group B. At each follow up patients were evaluated based on total symptom score (erythema, scaling and pruritus) which had shown significant improvement with negative potassium hydroxide results. None of the patients had severe side effects. Conclusions: Study showed that Itraconazole has higher clinical and mycological cure rates as compared to terbinafine. So itraconazole is superior to terbinafine in treatment of tinea corporis and cruris.