A type of antifungal drug.
A triazole antifungal drug taken orally for oropharyngeal and vulvovaginal CANDIDA, PITYRIASIS versicolor, and tinea corporis and pedis (see under RINGWORM). It is also used for systemic fungal infections such as ASPERGILLOSIS, candidiasis and cryptococcosis where other fungicidal drugs have not worked. Itraconazole is metabolised in the liver so should not be given to patients who have or have had liver disease. The drug can be given as maintenance treatment of AIDS (see AIDS/HIV) patients to prevent resurgence of underlying fungal disease to which they are vulnerable. (See FUNGAL AND YEAST INFECTIONS.)
n. an antifungal drug that is administered by mouth or intravenous infusion to treat a wide variety of fungal infections, including candidiasis and ringworm. Side-effects include nausea and abdominal pain, and there is a risk of liver damage and heart failure.
Ringworm, or tinea, is the name given to in?ammatory rashes caused by DERMATOPHYTES of the genera microsporum, epidermophyton and trichophyton. These fungi can infect skin, hair and nails. The important clinical patterns are:
Tinea capitis Usually seen in children in Britain and caused by microsporum species of human or animal (frequently a kitten) origin. Typically, patches of ALOPECIA are seen with broken-o? hair stumps which ?uoresce bright green under an ultraviolet (Wood’s) lamp. In Asia a chronic, scarring alopecia may be caused by a speci?c trichophyton (favus).
Tinea corporis is usually due to trichophyton species and forms ringed (hence ‘ringworm’) patches of redness and scaling on the trunk or limbs.
Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) is caused by epidermophyton or trichophyton species. Its minor form manifests as itching, scaling or blistering in the lateral toe clefts. More severe forms can be extensive on the sole. Trichophyton rubrum can cause a chronic, dry, scaling in?ammation of the foot, eventually extending into the nails and on to the soles and top of the foot which may persist for years if untreated.
Tinea cruris typically causes a ‘butter?y’ rash on the upper inner thighs in young adult males. It is usually caused by spread from the feet.
Tinea unguium (onychomycosis) Affecting the nails, especially of the toes, T. rubrum is the usual cause and may persist for decades.
Tinea barbae This rash of the face and beard is rare. It may be very in?ammatory and is usually contracted from cattle by farm workers.
Treatment Tinea of the toe clefts and groin will usually respond to an antifungal cream containing terbina?ne or an azole. Tinea capitis, barbae, extensive tinea corporis and all nail infections require oral treatment with terbina?ne or itraconazole (a triazole antifungal agent taken orally and used for candidiasis of the mouth, throat and vulgovaginal area as well as for ringworm) which have largely superseded the earlier treatment with the antiobiotic griseofulvin. (See FUNGAL AND YEAST INFECTIONS.)... ringworm
Candidosis (moniliasis) is an infection with the yeast, Candida albicans. It is encouraged by pregnancy, DIABETES MELLITUS, prolonged wide-spectrum ANTIBIOTICS or CORTICOSTEROIDS therapy, and is also seen in debilitated infants, the elderly and immunocompromised patients, e.g. those with AIDS/HIV. It may cause white patches in the mouth or vulvovaginal area (thrush) and a red vesicular and scaly rash in the ?nger clefts, beneath the breasts or in the groin or anogenital folds. Fingernail-fold infection causes chronic PARONYCHIA with secondary nail DYSTROPHY and may complicate RAYNAUD’S DISEASE. CLOTRIMAZOLE and similar ‘azoles’ as creams, oral gels or vaginal pessaries are rapidly e?ective, but severe systemic infections require oral itraconazole or even intravenous AMPHOTERICIN B.... candida
A group of antifungal drugs active against a wide range of fungi and yeasts (see FUNGAL AND YEAST INFECTIONS). Some are also e?ective against bacteria and HELMINTHS. Econazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, ?uconazole and itraconazole are examples: the drugs are given by mouth or externally as creams.... imidazoles
(antimycotic) adj. describing a drug that kills or inactivates fungi and is used to treat fungal (including yeast) infections. Antifungal drugs include *amphotericin, *griseofulvin, the *imidazoles, *itraconazole, *nystatin, and *terbinafine.... antifungal
n. (originally) any of a group of skin diseases typified by the development of fine branlike scales. The term is now used only with a modifying adjective. Pityriasis alba is a common condition in children in which pale scaly patches occur on the face; it is related to atopic *eczema. Pityriasis rosea is a common skin rash, believed to be viral in origin, typically starting with a single patch (a herald patch) on the trunk and followed by an eruption of oval pink scaly *macules. The spots are often aligned along the ribs. The rash usually clears completely in about eight weeks. Pityriasis versicolor is a common chronic infection of the skin caused by the yeast Malassezia furfur, which produces a persistent pale or brown scaly rash on the trunk. Treatment with *selenium sulphide shampoo or with oral itraconazole readily kills the organism but the skin may take months to regain its normal colour. See also dandruff.... pityriasis
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