ABSTRACT
Tinea Versicolor is a common superficial fungal skin infection. Topical drugs are often effective in limited lesions; but in extensive cases, systemic drugs are more suitable. Previous studies have shown that Ketoconazole and Fluconazole are effective in 42-97% and 74-100% of lesions respectively. Theaim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a single dose of 400mg Ketoconazole with two doses of 300mg of Fluconazole with 2 weeks interval. Sixty patients with extensive tinea versicolor [body involved area >/= 25%] were randomly assigned to treatment with either a single dose of 400mg of Ketoconazole or with two doses of 300mg of Fluconazole with 2 weeks interval. One month after the treatment, the improvement rate and side effects were evaluated by clinical examination and questionnaire. Sixty patients were participated initially in the study. Sixty cases [66.7%] completed the study. They were 51 males and 9 females, with a mean age of 30 years. At the follow up visit [one month after the end of treatment], the improvement rate for Ketoconazole [87.9%] was not significantly different from Fluconazole [81.5%]. [Fisher test: P=0.37]. Fluconazole has shown to be as effective as Ketoconazole in the treatment of extensive tinea versicolor. Due to the hepatotoxicity of Ketoconazole, Fluconazole appears to be more suitable in the treatment of extensive tinea versicolor