Comparison of Efficacy of Single Oral Dose Fluconazole Versus Single Oral Dose Itraconazole in Patients with Pityriasis Versicolor

Objective: To compare the efficacy of single oral dose Fluconazole and Itraconazole in patients with Pityriasis Versicolor. Methodology: This Randomized control trial study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan from March 2022 to August 2022. A total of 60 patients coming to OPD of derma department and diagnosed with Tinea Versicolor were randomized in 2 equal groups of 30 patients each. Patients diagnosed on odd serial number were allocated to group A and were prescribed oral Fluconazole (400 mg stat) while patients diagnosed on even serial number were allocated to group B and were prescribed oral Itraconazole (1000 mg stat). Diagnosis was made clinically and then by using mycological tests. Follow up visits were made at completion of 2nd and 4th weeks of start of treatment. Primary outcome was set as efficacy of the treatments at completion of 4 weeks that was assessed using mycological tests. Results:  In this study, age ranged was from 19 to 40 years with mean age of 30.066±7.74 years. Mean duration of disease was 4.216±1.29 months. At completion of study (4 weeks), treatment was effective in 25 patients (83.33%) in group A while in 17 patients (56.6%) in group B with a significant difference in efficacy between two groups (p=0.024). There was a good tolerability in both groups without any serious adverse reactions reported.  Conclusion: Single oral dose of Fluconazole is more effective compared to single oral dose of Itraconazole in the treatment of Pityriasis Versicolor.