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Onychomycosis in children: an overview
Aditya K Gupta1, Alayne R Skinner, Robert Baran
1Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center (Sunnybrook Site), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. agupta@execulink.com
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
|July 11, 2003
Summary
Onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection, is rare in children. Approved treatments are lacking, but oral and topical antifungals show promise for safety and effectiveness in pediatric cases.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Mycology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection, is uncommon in children, affecting approximately 0.3% globally.
- Trichophyton rubrum is identified as the most frequent causative agent.
- Current antifungal treatments are not specifically approved for pediatric onychomycosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy and safety of existing antifungal agents for treating onychomycosis in children.
- To address the unmet need for approved pediatric onychomycosis therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on pediatric onychomycosis treatment.
- Analysis of data on oral antifungals (terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole) and topical agents (ciclopirox, amorolfine).
Main Results:
- Oral terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole demonstrated effectiveness.
- Topical ciclopirox and amorolfine also showed positive outcomes.
- These agents were generally found to be safe for use in the pediatric population.
Conclusions:
- Despite lack of formal approval, oral and topical antifungal agents are effective and safe for treating pediatric onychomycosis.
- Further research and regulatory consideration for pediatric-specific onychomycosis treatments are warranted.