COMPARISON OF CLOTRIMAZOLE, FLUCONAZOLE AND ITRACONAZOLE IN VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS

Women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic (n=229) with mycologic ally confirmed acute vulvovaginal candidiasis were randomised to recei ve either clotrimazole (500 mg pessary and 1% cream), fluconazole (150 mg single oral dose) or itraconazole (200 mg bd oral dose for 1 day). Mycological cure rates were 96% in the itraconazole group, 95% in the clotrimazole group, and 83% in the fluconazole group (P=0.008). The p roportion of patients who were clinically cured showed a similar patte rn (itraconazole 80%, clotrimazole 80%, fluconazole 62%). This suggest s that itraconazole or clotrimazole are more effective than fluconazol e in the treatment of acute vaginal candidiasis.