[Monthly cycles of 1-week therapy with itraconazole for patients with Tinea pedis]

Monthly cycles of 1-week therapy with oral itraconazole at 200 mg daily for tinea pedis was assessed to determine its acceptability to patients. Thirty-four patients (17 men and 17 women) with intractable tinea pedis, with informed consent, took 200 mg of itraconazole once daily for one week over a month period until mycological studies showed negative results for up to 4 months. The overall mycological effectiveness was about 80% after this therapy. Information was also gathered on the influence of this therapy on the patients quality of life by questionnaires. Nineteen (70%) among the 27 patients who answered the questionnaire preferred this 1-week administration of itraconazole over a month-long period compared with continuous daily therapy. Twenty-two (81%) preferred this therapy over topical treatment. We recommend to this therapy be added for the treatment of intractable tinea pedis.