Efficacy of three short-term regimens of itraconazole in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Itraconazole is an oral antifungal agent, which has been proved to be effective in pityriasis versicolor. Different regimens for the treatment of pityriasis versicolor have been studied and good results were obtained with short-term treatment regimens.OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of the classical regimen of 200 mg/day itraconazole for 5 days with the regimes of 400 mg/day for 1 and 3 days.METHODS: A total of 60 patients with pityriasis versicolor were recruited into a randomized study. The patients were divided into three groups, each composed of 20 people. Mycological and clinical assessments were done before and on the 7th and 28th days after treatment. Results were evaluated with the chi-squared test.RESULTS: The regimen of 400 mg/day itraconazole for 3 days was found to be as effective as the classical regimen of 200 mg/day for 5 days in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor. The regimen of 400 mg/day itraconazole for 1 day was found to be ineffective.CONCLUSION: This study has shown that a short course of itraconazole, 400 mg/day for 3 days, appears to be an effective and alterantive treatment for pityriasis versicolor.