Comparison of Efficacy of Terbinafine and Fluconazole in Patients of Tinea Corporis

Background: Tinea corporis is a worldwide superficial fungal infection that mimics many other annular lesions. As the Tinea Corporis have a significant impact on patient’s life physically and psychologically. So, physicians must have knowledge about this condition and its treatment options. Objective: To compare the efficacy of terbinafine versus fluconazole in patients of tinea corporis. Study Design: It was a randomized controlled trial. Settings: Research was conducted at Department of Pharmacology Duration: for a period of 6 months from 10 Feb to 10 Aug 2020 at Khalifa Gulnawaz Teaching Hospital, Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & DHQ Teaching Hospital, Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Methodology: From both the genders 102 patients aged between 20-45 years who presented with tinea corporis were included in the study. Two treatment groups were made by random allocation of patients. Patients in Group-A were treated with oral terbinafine while those in Group-B were given fluconazole. Frequency of efficacy being outcome variable was labeled upon complete resolution of the tinea corporis in 4 weeks (counted from start of treatment) and was compared between the groups. An informed written informed consent was taken from all the patients. Results: The patients had a mean age of 31.66±6.99 years while the mean duration of disease was 5.41±2.16 months. There were 55 (53.9%) male and 47 (46.1%) female patients with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The frequency of efficacy was significantly higher in patients treated with terbinafine as compared to fluconazole (90.2% vs. 64.7%; p-value=0.002). This difference was same in all subgroups as well. Conclusion: Oral terbinafine was found more efficacious than conventional treatment with oral fluconazole in patients with tinea corporis regardless of patient’s age, gender and duration of disease which advocates preferred use of terbinafine in the treatment of such patients in future practice.