Abstract

Background: Superficial dermatophytosis affecting hair, skin and nail are common public health problem in India, because of the tropical climate with heat and humidity. The present study was conducted to assess efficacy of oral terbinafine versus itraconazole in treatment of dermatophytic infection of skin.
Materials & Methods: The patients were randomly divided into two groups to receive a daily dose of terbinafine 500 mg daily for 4 weeks (Group I) or 200 mg of itraconazole for 4 weeks daily (Group II). Patients were followed up after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of the study period. At each visit, clinical response was noted including pruritus, erythema, and scaling. All analysis was done SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).
Results: A total of 100 patient were randomly divided into two groups to receive a daily dose of terbinafine 500 mg daily for 4 weeks (Group II) or 200 mg of itraconazole for 4 weeks daily (Group I). At baseline in group I erythema was severe in maximum patients, scaling, pruritus was moderate in maximum patients. At 2^nd week in group I erythema, pruritus was moderate in maximum patients, scaling was mild in maximum patients. At 4^th week in group I erythema, pruritus was mild in maximum patients, scaling was absent in maximum patients. At baselie in group II erythema was equally moderate and severe in maximum patients, scaling, pruritus was moderate in maximum patients. At 2^nd week in group II erythema was moderate in maximum patients, scaling and pruritus was mild in maximum patients. At 4^th week in group I erythema, pruritus was mild in maximum patients, scaling was absent in maximum patients.
Conclusion: The present study concluded that Itraconazole has higher clinical and mycological cure rates as compared to terbinafine. erythema and scaling was absent in more patients in group I than group II.