title: A comparative study to evaluate efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness between Whitfield's ointment + oral fluconazole versus topical 1% butenafine in tinea infections of skin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of topical Whitfield's ointment plus oral fluconazole with topical 1% butenafine in tinea infections of the skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups and advised to apply either agent topically twice-a-day for 4 weeks on the lesions and fluconazole (150 mg) was administered once a week for 4 weeks in the study group applying Whitfield's ointment. Patients were followed-up at an interval of 10 days for clinical score and global evaluation response was assessed at baseline and during each follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 120 patients enrolled in the study 103 completed the study. Patients treated with Whitfield's ointment and oral fluconazole reduced mean sign and symptom score from 8.81 ± 0.82 to 0.18 ± 0.59 while butenafine treated patients reduced it from 8.88 ± 0.53 to 0.31 ± 0.67 at the end of the treatment. Nearly, 98% patients were completely cleared of the lesion on the 3(rd) follow-up with both treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whitfield's ointment with oral fluconazole is as efficacious, safe and cost-effective as compared with 1% butenafine in tinea infections of the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Saket J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Thaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Dimple S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Hiral A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Jayendra N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Dave
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Kunjan M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kikani
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014005:Tinea / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001565:Benzoates; D001596:Benzylamines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009281:Naphthalenes; D012459:Salicylates; C023697:Whitfield's Ointment; D015725:Fluconazole; C067594:butenafine
keywords: Butenafine; Whitfield's ointment; fluconazole; tinea infections