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Treatment of tinea capitis
1Ohio State University, Wexner Institute for Pediatric Research, Columbus, OH, USA.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Tinea capitis, a common fungal infection in children, requires oral antifungal treatment. Griseofulvin remains the primary therapy, though newer agents are being explored for improved efficacy and shorter treatment durations.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Mycology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Tinea capitis is the most prevalent dermatophyte infection among young urban children.
- Effective treatment necessitates oral antifungal therapy, often over extended periods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review tinea capitis, covering epidemiology, pathogenesis, mycology, clinical presentation, and pharmacotherapy.
- To evaluate the role of emerging antimycotic agents in treating this infection.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE and journal references from 1966 to 1996.
- Data synthesis involved evaluating controlled studies, case reports, open-label, and comparative studies on antimycotic efficacy.
Main Results:
- Griseofulvin is the established first-line treatment for tinea capitis.
- Newer agents like itraconazole and terbinafine show promise with potential for shorter treatment durations due to high drug concentrations in hair and stratum corneum, but require further US-based comparative studies.
- Ketoconazole has not shown superiority over griseofulvin in clinical trials.
Conclusions:
- The combination of griseofulvin and selenium sulfide shampoo is the current standard of care for tinea capitis.
- Further clinical experience and comparative studies are needed to establish the role of newer antimycotics in the US population.