Key takeaways
Ketoconazole cream and Voriconazole (Vfend) are both antifungal medications used to treat fungal infections, but they differ in several ways. Ketoconazole cream is a topical antifungal used to treat skin infections like ringworm, jock itch, athlete's foot, and seborrheic dermatitis. It is applied directly to the skin and is available only by prescription. Voriconazole (Vfend), on the other hand, is an azole antifungal available in oral and injectable forms only by prescription, used for more serious infections like invasive aspergillosis and esophageal candidiasis. Voriconazole can be used in both adults and children as young as 2 years old, while ketoconazole cream is only approved for adults. Ketoconazole cream has few side effects, mainly skin irritation, while voriconazole can cause more severe side effects, including vision changes and liver damage. Voriconazole also has many drug interactions, unlike ketoconazole cream, which is applied topically and has minimal systemic absorption.
