Clinical Efficacy of Oral Terbinafine, Fluconazole and Itraconazole in the Treatment of Tinea Corporis

Context: Comparing terbinafine, fluconazole and itraconazole for its efficacy.

Aims: This study was aimed to assess the clinico-mycological efficacy of oral terbinafine, fluconazole and itraconazole in the treatment of tinea corporis in a tertiary care hospital.

Study Design: This is a randomised comparative study with a sample size of 60 patients.

Methods: Patients were enrolled after considering various inclusion and exclusion criteria into three groups. Group A (oral terbinafine 250 mg daily for 2 weeks), group B (fluconazole 150 mg once weekly for 4 weeks) and group C (itraconazole 200 mg once daily for 2 weeks). Clinical assessment was performed weekly on the basis of physician global assessment grading the severity of pruritus, erythematic, vesicle and desquamation.

Statistical Analysis Used: Fisher exact test was used to calculate the statistical significance between the pre and post interventional results.

Results: Of the 60 patients, 51 completed the study on a comparison between the three groups terbinafine (n=15), itraconazole (n=18) and fluconazole (n=18), it was observed that terbinafine was more effective on pruritis (80%), erythema (40%) and desquamation (80%). Itraconazole showed effectiveness on vesicle (66.66%).

Conclusions: Terbinafine was better than itraconazole and fluconazole in relieving signs and symptoms during the study period.