Oral therapy of common superficial fungal infections of the skin

Although superficial fungal infections of the skin often respond to topical agents, systemic therapy is sometimes necessary. This article gives a revi ew of the effectiveness of the oral antifungal agents fluconazole, itracona zole, and terbinafine in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor, tinea corp oris/cruris, and tinea pedis. Four hundred milligrams fluconazole as a sing le dose and 200 mg itraconazole daily for 5 to 7 days were effective in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor; terbinafine taken orally appears to be ineffective in pityriasis versicolor. Tinea corporis and tinea cruris were effectively treated by 50 to 100 mg fluconazole daily or 150 mg once weekl y for 2 to 3 weeks, by 100 mg itraconazole daily for 2 weeks or 200 mg dail y for 7 days, and by 250 mg terbinafine daily for 1 to 2 weeks. Tinea pedis has been effectively treated with pulse doses of 150 mg fluconazole once w eekly, with 100 mg itraconazole daily for 2 weeks or 400 mg daily for 1 wee k, and with 250 mg terbinafine daily for 2 weeks.