A pilot study to evaluate the patient adherence to antifungal therapy in dermatophytosis: a possible contributory factor to the current epidemic-like situation in India

Dear Editor, There is currently an epidemic of ‘difficult‐to‐treat dermatophytosis’ in India.1 This unprecedented scenario has been attributed to an increase in the prevalence of a newer strain of Trichophyton mentagrophytes,2 to terbinafine resistance,3 misuse and abuse of topical steroids, increasing environmental humidity and failure to adhere to prescribed antifungal therapy. Noncompliance to prescription is a contributory factor to clinical antifungal resistance.4 However, few studies have examined patient adherence to therapy.5 In the current study, we aimed to assess adherence levels to oral and topical antifungals in patients with tinea corporis/cruris (majority of the current epidemic) and identify the factors influencing medication adherence. The study was approved by the local ethics committee, and all patients provided written informed consent. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The study was conducted over a period of 1 year. All consenting patients with newly diagnosed tinea corporis/cruris who had been started on treatment were included. Those with dermatophytosis on the scalp, palms/soles or nails and those not willing to attend for follow‐up after 2 weeks were excluded.