Oral fluconazole in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor

AIM: This study was designed to assess the efficacy, tolerability and safet y of oral fluconazole in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor (PV). METHODS: Fifty patients, 35 males aged 18-54 (mean 25 years) and 15 females aged 18-29 (mean 20 years) completed this study. Oral fluconazole in 300mg single dosage once weekly for 2 weeks was given to all the patients. Clini cal evaluation by global assessment and Wood's lamp examination, as well as mycological examination of the skin scales with KOH mounts, was performed by the same physician throughout. Patients were assessed at the start of we ek 0 and weeks 2, 3 and 4. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients (98%) showed clinical and mycological cure at week 4. One patient who did not improve needed the second course of the dru g. Tolerability of the drugs was excellent in all the patients. Minor adver se effects were dry month and dizziness in a few patients but this was not severe enough to discontinue the drug. There were no significant haematolog ical abnormalities found in any of the patients.