Summary. A total of 369 women with clinical and mycological evidence of vaginal candidiasis received treatment, after random allocation, with either a single oral 150‐mg dose of fluconazole (188 women) or 200 mg of intravaginal clotrimazole given daily for 3 consecutive days (181 women). They were assessed at 5–16 days and again at 27–62 days after treatment. Candida species were completely eradicated from the vagina in 72% of the fluconazole group and in 62% of the clotrimazole group at the long‐term assessment (P=0·07). Favourable clinical responses were obtained in 99% of the fluconazole group and in 97% of the clotrimazole group at the short‐term assessment and in 93% and 84% respectively at the long‐term assessment when there was a significant advantage for fluconazole treatment (P=0·02). Symptoms in patients receiving fluconazole were relieved more rapidly (P<0·001). Treatment‐related side‐effects were few and minor in both groups. It is concluded that treatment of vaginal candidiasis with fluconazole, as a single oral dose, was more effective in the long term, relieved symptoms more rapidly, and was as safe as treatment with intravaginal clotrimazole.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.