Prospective study on comparison of efficacy of topical anti-fungal agents: clotrimazole 1% and sertaconazole 2% in treatment of tinea cruris

Abstract

Background: Tinea cruris is a common superficial dermatophytic infection of the skin occurring in 20-25% population worldwide. The various types of antifungal agents are available for topical use in treatment of tinea cruris. Clotrimazole is conventional imidazole antifungal drug whereas sertaconazole is newer imidazole antifungal claimed to be superior to clotrimazole in tinea infection. The aim of the study was to determine and compare the efficacy of potent topical azole agents 1% clotrimazole and 2% sertaconazole in patients diagnosed with tinea cruris attending out-patient department of skin and VD of tertiary care hospital in Vadodara. Methods: A total of 71 patients diagnosed with tinea cruris were divided into two groups. Group A received topical clotrimazole (1% cream), and Group B received topical sertaconazole (2% cream). Outcome parameters such as erythema, scaling, itching, margins of lesions and size of lesions were noted atthe time of hospital visit, by 3rd week and by 6th week for the assessment of efficacy. The statistical test used was independent student t-test and software used was SPSS 20.0. Results: At the end of follow-up phase, both the drugs were found to be effective with no recurrence or relapse of tinea cruris. However, compared to clotrimazole 1% cream, sertaconazole 2% cream had statistically significant rapid relief in terms of reduction in clinical parameters such as erythema (p<0.001), scaling (p<0.001), itching (p<0.001), size of lesion (p<0.001) and margin of lesion (p<0.011). Conclusions: Topical sertaconazole 2% cream was found to be highly efficacious and superior to clotrimazole 1% cream in improvement of clinical parameters of tinea cruris.