Terbinafine and itraconazole in the treatment of onychomycosis Review article
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Abstract
Onychomycosis is a frequently found dermatosis. The aim of it’s treatment is to eliminate the infection and restore the normal appearance of the nail plate. In clinical practice, it is essential to select a proper drug. Most frequently used in systemic therapy are terbinafine and itraconazole. As the treatment of choice the oral administration of one of these two antifungal drugs are recommended. Clinical studies have demonstrated a high effectiveness of the terbinafine and itraconazole oral therapy in the treatment of onychomycosis. Some recommendations, however, draws attention to the fact that terbinafine in onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes should be treated as a first-line treatment, and itraconazole as it’s best alternative. The recommendations also indicate the efficacy of itraconazole in the treatment of mixed infections of nails caused by mold fungi and yeasts. The paper presents the literature data on comparative studies and analyzes influencing the choice of therapy.
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