The Treatment Of Onychomycosis By Oral Terbinafine: The Efficacy And Adverse Evevn

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Departments of Dermatology & Venereology Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

2 Microbiology & Immunology Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

3 Community Medicine** Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

Abstract

Onychomycosis contributes to approximately half of all nail disorders and appears to be increasing in frequency. The main aim of this study was to access efficacy and adverse events of oral terbinafine in the treatment of adult patients with onychomycosis of the fingernails and toenails. Forty patients with onychomycosis, aged 22-48 years were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups; group I, consisted of 20 patients with fingernail onychomycosis and group II, 20 patients with toenail onychomycosis. The two groups (I-II) of patients were received, freely, oral terbinafine in a dose of 250 mg/day for 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. The patients were examined clinically and mycologically before start of the treatment, at end of the treatment and after a follow up period of 18 weeks from the treatment in both groups. The results of the study showed marked clinical (75.0%) and mycological (85.0%) cure rates in the total patient group. The clinical and mycological cure rates in group I were 80.0% and 90.0%, respectively. While, in group II the clinical and mycological cure rates were 70.0% and 80.0%, respectively. Also, 17.5% of the total patient group had adverse events, 71.4% of these events were mild and 42.9% were drug related. Lastly, complete cure rate at follow up at 18 weeks from the treatment was 87.5% of the total patients group. It could be concluded that terbinafine appears to be safe and effective in the treatment of fungal infections of the fingernails and toenails.
The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine
Volume 30, Issue 1
January 2008
Pages 70-77

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