# The Dangers of Misuse of Corticosteroid Drugs in Treating Superficial Fungal Infections: Presentation of a Case Series for Stricter Policy Regulation

## TL;DR

The paper presents case studies from Bangladesh showing how misuse of corticosteroids for skin fungal infections worsens health outcomes and calls for stricter policies and education.

## Contribution

The study highlights real-world misuse of corticosteroids in Bangladesh and proposes actionable solutions to prevent such misuse.

## Key findings

- Misuse of corticosteroids led to worsening fungal infections in 10 Bangladeshi patients.
- The paper advocates for stricter regulations and education to reduce corticosteroid misuse.
- Promotion of single-agent topical treatments and individualized prescriptions is suggested to improve outcomes.

## Abstract

Skin fungal infections are a significant global issue and have raised concerns about the effectiveness and appropriateness of using corticosteroids for treatment. This article analyzed 10 case reports of patients in Bangladesh who either received incorrect prescriptions or self‐medicated with different forms of corticosteroids for fungal skin infections. These cases clearly showed the widespread misuse of corticosteroids, resulting in the worsening of fungal infections and posing more health risks. There is an urgent call for improved education for patients, village doctors/medical assistants, and healthcare providers to reduce corticosteroid misuse by promoting proper diagnosis and treatment protocols. Suggestions include using specific, single‐agent topical treatments, enforcing strict regulations, and individualizing prescription durations to optimize patient outcomes and minimize the risks associated with corticosteroid misuse in managing fungal skin infections.

Skin fungal infections are a significant global public health issue. We analyzed 10 case reports of patients in Bangladesh who received different forms of corticosteroids for fungal skin infections. These cases clearly showed the widespread misuse of corticosteroids, resulting in the worsening of fungal infections and posing more health risks. Awareness for patients, village doctors/medical assistants, and healthcare providers to reduce corticosteroid misuse by promoting proper diagnosis and treatment protocols. Using specific, single‐agent topical treatments, enforcing strict regulations, and individualizing prescription durations to optimize patient outcomes and minimize the risks associated with corticosteroid misuse in managing fungal skin infections. Effectiveness and appropriateness of using corticosteroids for treatment of skin fungal infections are crucial.