Treatment of dermatophytosis with new systemic antifungal agent, itraconazole

Thirty patients with the clinical and laboratory proven diagnosis of either tinea corporis or tinea cruris were treated with a new systemic antifungal agent, itraconazole. Itraconazole, a triazole derivative, interacts specifically with fungal cytochrome P-450 and has high affinity for skin and mucous membrane. In this open non-comparative clinical trial, itraconazole was given orally in the dosage of 100 mg per day for 14 consecutive days. Twenty-nine cases (96.6%) had good clinical response with 83.3 per cent mycological cure rate. Complete healing of cutaneous lesions was 56.6 per cent at the end of therapy (14 days) and increased to 83.3 per cent two weeks later. No significant side effects were noted. Itraconazole is highly effective in treatment of dermatophytosis with a shorter treatment period than other conventional antifungal agents.