Single-dose sertaconazole vaginal tablet treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

BACKGROUND Vulvovaginal candidiasis (WC) is a bothersome disease in women. Poor compliance with the continuous use of antifungal vaginal drugs often results in treatment failure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy, acceptability, and safety of single-dose sertaconazole vaginal tablet (500 mg) treatment compared with conventional 3-dose econazole vaginal tablet (150 mg) treatment for VVC. METHODS In this open, randomized, and comparative study, 40 symptomatic patients with VVC confirmed by the smear method were enrolled. Patients in group A were treated with single-dose sertaconazole vaginal tablet and those in group B were treated continuously with econazole vaginal tablet for 3 days. RESULTS The characteristics of the patients in both groups were comparable and without statistical difference. Group A showed a significantly better clearance rate for candidiasis than group B (100% vs. 72.2% on day 7, p = 0.013; 100% vs. 77.8% on day 14, p = 0.030), based on smear method results. Group A showed a more rapid response for symptom relief than group B on day 7, but there was no difference in overall symptom relief between group A and group B on day 14. CONCLUSION Single-dose sertaconazole proved to be a more convenient and symptom-relieving treatment for VVC. The advantages of such management are worthy of further study in women with relapse VVC.