Topical tioconazole versus systemic ketoconazole treatment of vaginal candidiasis.

A total of forty patients participated in an open, randomized study to compare the efficacy and toleration of a single dose of topical tioconazole 6% vaginal ointment with 5 days treatment of systemic ketoconazole (400 mg/day) in patients with symptomatic vaginal candidal infection. Disease in patients of both treatment groups was effectively eradicated after 5 weeks of therapy. Symptoms of patients receiving topical therapy responded more quickly than those of patients receiving oral therapy. Side-effects were more prevalent with ketoconazole systemic therapy. Overall, topical therapy with tioconazole was preferred over systemic ketoconazole therapy for these women with symptomatic vulvovaginitis due to Candida albicans.