From the Guidelines
Tinea corporis is best treated with oral antifungal medications, specifically itraconazole 100 mg once a day for 15 days, which has shown a superior mycological cure rate of 87% compared to other treatments. When considering treatment options, it's essential to prioritize the most effective and recent evidence, which in this case is the study published in Pediatrics in 2017 1. This study highlights the efficacy of oral agents, such as itraconazole, in treating Tinea corporis.
Key Considerations
- The study found that itraconazole was superior to griseofulvin in achieving a mycological cure rate of 87% versus 57%, respectively, at the end of 2 weeks after completion of therapy 1.
- Terbinafine appears to be superior for treating T tonsurans, but the study specifically recommends itraconazole for Tinea corporis 1.
- It's crucial to note that Tinea corporis can be caused by various fungi, including Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and the treatment should be tailored accordingly.
Prevention and Management
- To prevent the spread of Tinea corporis, it's essential to avoid skin-to-skin contact with people known to have lesions, not share towels and other fomites, and limit exposure to swimming pools that have recently been associated with known outbreaks 1.
- Keeping the affected area clean and dry, avoiding sharing personal items, and washing clothes and bedding in hot water can help prevent reinfection.
Treatment Options
- Oral antifungals, such as itraconazole 100 mg once a day for 15 days, are the preferred treatment option for Tinea corporis, especially for severe, extensive, or resistant cases.
- Topical antifungal medications may be considered for mild cases, but the evidence suggests that oral antifungals are more effective in achieving a mycological cure.
From the FDA Drug Label
Uses • cures most athlete's foot (tinea pedis) • cures most jock itch (tinea cruris) and ringworm (tinea corporis) • relieves itching, burning, cracking and scaling which accompany these conditions Representative treatment periods are tinea capitis, 4 to 6 weeks; tinea corporis, 2 to 4 weeks;
Tinea corporis treatment options include:
- Terbinafine (TOP), which cures most ringworm (tinea corporis) 2
- Griseofulvin (PO), with a representative treatment period of 2 to 4 weeks 3
From the Research
Tinea Corporis Treatment
- Tinea corporis is a common fungal infection that can be treated with topical antifungals, and in some cases, systemic antifungal treatment may be necessary 4.
- The standard treatment of tinea corporis is with topical antifungals, and treatment should continue for at least one week after clinical clearing of infection 5.
- Systemic antifungal treatment is indicated if the lesion is multiple, extensive, deep, recurrent, chronic, or unresponsive to topical antifungal treatment, or if the patient is immunodeficient 4.
Topical Treatment
- Topical therapy is generally successful unless the infection covers an extensive area or is resistant to initial therapy 5.
- Newer medications require fewer applications and a shorter duration of use 5.
- The presence of inflammation may necessitate the use of an agent with inherent anti-inflammatory properties or the use of a combination antifungal/steroid agent 5.
Systemic Treatment
- Oral antifungal drugs such as fluconazole, griseofulvin, itraconazole, and terbinafine can be used to treat tinea corporis, but their effectiveness may vary 6.
- Itraconazole has been shown to be the most effective oral antifungal drug in the treatment of chronic and chronic relapsing dermatophytosis in India 6.
- Griseofulvin and terbinafine have been shown to be effective in the treatment of tinea imbricata, a type of tinea corporis 7.