Efficacy and tolerability of 8 weeks' treatment with terbinafine in children with tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis: a comparison of three doses.
BACKGROUND
Tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis is the most common mycosis of the scalp in preschool and school-aged children in Greece.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of an 8-week course of oral terbinafine at different doses.


METHODS
Patients received oral terbinafine at doses ranging from 3.3 to 12.5 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks, as follows: group A, terbinafine 3.3 to </= 6.0 mg/kg/day (40 patients); group B, terbinafine > 6.0 to 7.0 mg/kg/day (23 patients); group C, terbinafine > 7.0 to 12.5 mg/kg/day (37 patients). Fungal microscopy and cultures were performed 4 weeks before the start of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (week 8) and at a follow-up visit at week 16.


RESULTS
At week 8 mycological cure was achieved in one patient (2.7%) in group A, in 21 patients (91.3%) in group B and in 34 patients (97.1%) in group C. At week 16 mycological cure was achieved in one patient (2.7%) in group A, in 22 patients (95.7%) in group B and in 35 patients (100%) in group C. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0005) between dose level and efficacy of terbinafine at the end of the treatment period and also at the follow-up visit at week 16. Five patients (three in group A and two in group C) discontinued treatment because of adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of terbinafine at a dose of either 6-7 or 7-12.5 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks is safe and effective for the treatment in children of tinea capitis caused by M. canis.
Department of Dermatology, Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki, Mycological Laboratory of the State Hospital for Skin and Venereal Diseases, Chalkidikis 51, GR-54644, Thessaloniki, Greece.
D
D
Devliotou-Panagiotidou
T H
TH
Koussidou-Eremondi
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077291:Terbinafine; D014006:Tinea Capitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000077291:Terbinafine