Terbinafin 1% cream and ketoconazole 2% cream in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor: a randomized comparative clinical trial

To make a comparison between terbinafine 1% cream and ketoconazole 2% cream in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor. This randomized single blind study included 110 patients with clinical diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor and positive mycological test for Malassezia furfur. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 used terbinafine cream and group 2 applied ketoconazole cream on the skin lesions for two weeks. Each group consisted of 55 patients. Clinical and mycological examinations were performed at baseline, at the end of the 2[nd], 4[th] and 8[th] week of starting the treatment regimens. At the end of the 2[nd] week we achieved cure rates of 72% and 64.3% for group 1 and group 2 respectively. At the end of the 4[th] week the respective cure rates for group 1 and group 2 were 81.2% and 69%, and at the end of the 8[th] week 70.8% of the patients in group 1 and 61.9% of the patients in group 2 were cured. The results of this study showed no significant statistical differences between the two groups in regard to cure and recurrence rates. But the numbers of cured patients were higher and recurrent cases were lower in group 1

relationship betwen skin manifestations and CD4 counts among HIV positive patients

Skin manifestations are common clinical features among HIV positive patients. The aim of this study was to document skin manifestations and their relationships with CD4 cell counts among HIV positive patients in Sanandaj. This was a descriptive study. The patients were examined for skin disorders by a dermatologist and CD4 counts were obtained from the patient's medical records. Independent samples T test were used for data analysis. In this study 66 [94.3%] patients had at least one skin problem. Fungal infections were the most common cause. The eight most common types of mucocutaneous problems were gingivitis, pallor, itching, photosensitivity, seborrheic dermatitis, candidiasis, folliculitis and tinea versicolor. The most common manifestation was gingivitis. Mean CD4 cell counts were lower in individuals with viral and bacterial skin diseases [P<0.05]. The results of this study indicated that skin problems were common among HIV positive patients. Patients with advanced stages of skin disorders had relatively lower CD4 counts. Therefore examination of skin is recommended for all HIV positive patients for early detection of skin disorders, as early diagnosis and management of dermatologic problems will improve the quality of life in HIV positive patients

study of disability status of live leprosy patients in Kurdistan province of Iran

Leprosy is an infectious disease which may lead to disability before, during or after treatment. There have been different reports about the prevalence of disabilities in leprosy patients. This study is about the status of disabilities in live leprosy patients in Kurdistan province. This was a descriptive-analytic study. The live patients who were accessible and had been registered in the health care department of Kurdistan University were imcluded. The patients whose files were incomplete, were examined and their disabilities were assessed on the basis of the WHO protocol about grading of disabilities in leprosy. One hundred eighty patients were included in this study_ 116 [64.4%] were male and 64 [35.6%] were female. One hundred twenty six [70%] patients had multibacillary and 54 [30%] of them had paucibacillary leprosy. In our study 152 [84.4%] patients had developed disabilities of variable degrees. There was a significant relation between disabilities and type of leprosy [p<0.05], but no relation was observed between disabilities and sex or residential areas. Today, the main objective of therapeutic plans for leprosy is prevention of disabilities in the patients. Prevalence rate of disabilities in the leprosy patients of Kurdistan province, was higher than those of other parts of the world which might have been due to delay in referring to healthcare centers, incomplete treatment course and having no access to medical centers in the past