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.
Devliotou-Panagiotidou
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Department of Dermatology, Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki, Mycological Laboratory of the State Hospital for Skin and Venereal Diseases, Chalkidikis 51, GR-54644, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Koussidou-Eremondi
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TH
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