Desperate with persistent fungal infection - help!

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any advice or ideas about my case?

  • tricophyton fungus isolated in the lab 3 weeks ago
  • infection started in august with severe itching in the perianal region (tinea cruris) after travelling to middle east and india in february (where im aware theres' resistant tricophyton)
  • treatments started in september with several UK GPs treating in the dark (but suspecting of fungal infection): topical terbinafine twice day for 10 days (failed), switched to cannesten HC + fluconazole orally for 3 weeks which cleared the infection 95% on week three. medication was stopped on doctors advice
  • infection returned stronger and was given daktacort and trimovate (no effect and continued getting worse)
  • then did done 5.5 weeks of oral terbinafine + topical terbinafine (little improvement then plateaud)
  • currently on day 9 of itraconazole + topical terbinafine and seeing some significant reduction in redness and discolouration and itching symptoms but its also very much still there!

further info

  • all bloods returned normal (FBC), including blood film ,Immunoglobulins and inflammationn markers
  • swollen lymph node on site of infection (groin)
  • liver tests normal
  • hiv negative
  • no diabetes
  • first fungal infection in my life
  • infection started on site of severe chaffing back in august when abroad hiking in wet speedos for weeks on end

no dermatology is available on the nhs for 8 months and no private dermatologists in the whole of scotland until february

im desperate and considering flying abroad for specialist advice

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1 Reply

  • Edited

    i dont think you will find much better treatment abroad. This fungus has developed some resistance to Terbinafine, and now Itraconazole is the accepted treatment when all else has failed. Keep going back to your GP until you can see a dermatologist. Unfortunately Dermatology waiting lists are always long.

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