ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of treatment with econazole and clotrimazole in patients with vaginal candidiasis. DESIGN: A double blind study. Patients with vaginal candidiasis were randomly treated with vaginal depot preparations of econazole and clotrimazole. Efficacy after treatment by reduction of symptoms, a gynaecological examination and microbiological analysis of vaginal fluid. Adverse reactions were noted. SETTING: University gynaecological clinic at the de Soysa Hospital for Women, Colombo. PATIENTS: 102 patients microbiologically confirmed as having vaginal candidiasis. RESULTS: Two weeks after econazole treatment 19% still complained of a discharge and 7.5% had pruritus. The respective values for clotrimazole were 18% and 12%. The finding on gynaecological examination generally supported the reduction of symptoms. Microbiological assessment showed that 90.5% in the econazole group and 96% in the clotrimazole group became culture negative at two weeks after treatment. Adverse effects were similar in incidence and number for both treatment groups. Econazole was less acceptable to patients than clotrimazole. CONCLUSIONS: Econazole and clotrimazole are of equal efficacy for treatment of vaginal candidiasis. Econazole was less acceptable to patients.