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Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds
Published on: February 14, 2018
Systemic antifungal therapy for tinea capitis in children
Xiaomei Chen1, Xia Jiang, Ming Yang
1Department of Dermatology & Venereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610041.
Newer antifungals like terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole show similar efficacy to griseofulvin for treating tinea capitis (scalp fungal infection) in children. However, terbinafine is more effective for T. tonsurans infections, while griseofulvin is better for Microsporum infections.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Mycology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Tinea capitis is a common, contagious fungal scalp infection in children requiring systemic treatment.
- Systemic antifungal therapy is crucial for effective treatment and preventing the spread of tinea capitis.
- This review is an update of previous Cochrane analyses on tinea capitis treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of various systemic antifungal drugs for treating tinea capitis in pediatric patients.
- To compare the efficacy and safety of newer antifungals against griseofulvin for tinea capitis.
Main Methods:
- Updated systematic literature search of multiple databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.) up to November 2015.
- Inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving systemically treated, immunocompetent children under 18 with confirmed tinea capitis.
- Standard Cochrane methodological procedures for data collection and analysis were employed.
Main Results:
- Terbinafine and griseofulvin showed similar efficacy for Trichophyton species infections (low to moderate quality evidence).
- Newer agents (terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole) demonstrated comparable efficacy to griseofulvin for Trichophyton infections.
- Terbinafine was more effective for T. tonsurans infections, but griseofulvin was more effective for Microsporum infections (moderate quality evidence).
Conclusions:
- Newer systemic antifungals (terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole) are at least as effective as griseofulvin for most Trichophyton-related tinea capitis.
- Ketoconazole may be less effective than griseofulvin for Trichophyton infections, particularly with shorter treatment durations.
- Treatment choice may depend on the specific fungal species, with terbinafine favored for T. tonsurans and griseofulvin for Microsporum.
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