MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Randomized control trial to study the effectiveness of tablet Fluconazole, capsule Itraconazole and tablet Terbinafine in superficial dermatophytosis

Summary

This study tested three common antifungal medications used to treat fungal skin infections like ringworm. The research involved 180 patients who were randomly given one of three drugs and then checked at 4 and 8 weeks to see if the infection was gone. Itraconazole worked best, clearing infections in about 87% of patients, followed by Fluconazole at 73%, and Terbinafine at 63%.

Background

Dermatophytosis is a relatively frequent superficial fungal infection with a prevalence of 20-25% worldwide. The infection is more widespread in tropical areas like India due to preference for hot and humid climate. Multiple risk factors including overcrowding, poverty, poor hygiene, immunosuppression, and irrational drug use contribute to the disease prevalence.

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of three antifungal medications (Fluconazole, Itraconazole, and Terbinafine) in treating superficial dermatophytosis. The study aimed to determine which drug provides better clinical outcomes and mycological cure rates.

Results

At 8 weeks, KOH mount was negative in 86.67% of Itraconazole group, 73.33% of Fluconazole group, and 63.33% of Terbinafine group. Itraconazole showed significantly better clinical response compared to the other two medications.

Conclusion

Itraconazole demonstrated superior effectiveness for treating dermatophytosis compared to Fluconazole and Terbinafine. A 4-week oral dose of Itraconazole was found to provide the most satisfactory clinical outcomes. Fluconazole was also superior to Terbinafine, establishing a hierarchy of drug effectiveness.
  • Published in:Open Forum Infectious Diseases,
  • Study Type:Randomized Controlled Trial,
  • Source: 10.1093/ofid/ofae631.1210; PMC11776571
Scroll to Top