title: Comparison of the efficacy and safety of oral fluconazole and topical clotrimazole in patients with candida balanitis.
abstract: One hundred fifty seven men with candidal balanitis were entered in a randomised, open-label parallel-group multicentre study comparing efficacy and safety of a single oral 150-mg fluconazole-dose with clotrimazole applied topically twice daily for 7 days. Of 64 fluconazole and 68 clotrimazole treated patients who were evaluable at short term follow up, 92% and 91% respectively were clinically cured or improved. Candida albicans was eradicated in 78% and 83% of patients respectively. Median time to relief of erythema was 6 days for fluconazole and 7 days for clotrimazole. Twelve of 15 patients who had received previous topical therapy for balanitis said they preferred oral therapy. At the one month follow up visit, 24/36 and 29/33 patients in the two groups were clinically cured or improved. Nine in the fluconazole group experienced a relapse; 6 of these 9 patients reported previous episodes of this infection during the past year. Two patients in the clotrimazole group had a relapse; neither had a history of previous episodes. Mycological eradication was noted in 26/36 and 25/33 patients in the two groups. Both treatment regimens were well tolerated. Thus a single 150 mg dose of fluconazole was comparable in efficacy and safety to clotrimazole cream applied topically for 7 days when administered to patients with balanitis.
authors.affiliation: Outpatients' Center for Diagnosis of Infectious, Venerodermatological Disease, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stary
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soeltz-Szoets
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Kinghorn
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001446:Balanitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole; D003022:Clotrimazole