Bifonazole in the treatment of fungal skin infections in the tropics: a clinical and mycological study.

A study was carried out in 40 patients with various superficial fungal diseases, confirmed by culture or microscopic examination, to assess the therapeutic efficacy and local tolerability of 1% bifonazole cream. Patients with more than one clinical diagnosis at the time of entry were treated according to the number of conditions present. The cream was applied once daily to the affected areas and treatment duration varied according to persistence or resolution of the clinical signs and symptoms in the individual patient. The results were evaluated by clinical and mycological examination 3 and 14 days after the end of treatment. A cure rate of 100% was achieved in cases of pityriasis versicolor, tinea corporis and candidiasis, and 90% in patients with tinea pedis. Clinical signs and symptoms disappeared completely in all but a few patients. No side-reactions were observed in any patient, and patch tests carried out in selected patients with known allergy and those with normal skin showed no evidence of any allergic or photosensitivity reaction to bifonazole.