Treatment Pattern of dermatophytosis at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary healthcare hospital of Chhattisgarh, Central India

Background: in the recent past dermatophytosis are being highly prevalent, main culprit behind is inappropriate use of antifungal agents and self-medications which is leading to exponential rise in global burden superficial fungal infections, and antifungal drug resistance. Clinician's management pattern data collection on time to time to have a check on the resistance/sensitivity pattern of the commonly prescribed antifungals in clinical grounds is important. Aims and objectives: The present study was to describe the pattern of antifungal drug prescription and self-medication for common superficial fungal infections of skin in dermatology OPD in tertiary care hospital of Chhattisgarh. Materials and Methods: Current study was a cross sectional unicentric study conducted at Dermatology OPD of Pt J.N.M. Medical College Raipur, the data collection for this observational study was undertaken for a period of six months. All patients attending the dermatology OPD with tinea infections were included in the study. This study was designed to record parameters include information related to demographic, disease profile, medications prescribed, number of drugs, dosage & duration were reported. Self medication pattern was also being observed during this study. Results: A total of 17286 patients attended dermatology OPD and 42% patients were suffering from tinea. The most common fungal infection was Tinea cruris 55.07%, the commonest treatment pattern was Combination of oral &Topical therapy 92.15%. Most frequently prescribed combination was fluconazole plus itraconazole along with Clotrimazole cream was seen in 64.45%, commonest anti-fungal agents were the azoles; amongst which clotrimazole (67.04%)were the commonest. Commonly prescribed individual antifungal was oral Fluconazole 73.11%. The self-medication prevalence for dermatophytosis was 62.26%. Self-medication drugs were mainly topical (creams) FDC of antifungal and steroids. Around 76% of the self-medication information was obtained from the chemists.