title: Is itraconazole the treatment of choice in Microsporum canis tinea capitis?
abstract: Mycotic scalp infection caused by Microsporum canis is the most dominant cause of tinea capitis in Greece. Griseofulvin has been the gold standard for the treatment of tinea capitis, but it is unavailable in our country. In this study, we evaluated 111 children with M. canis tinea capitis that were treated with itraconazole. Eighty-one of them were treated with itraconazole capsule pulse therapy (group A) and 30 (group B) were treated with oral suspension administered in continuous regimen. Twenty-one patients, all from group A, were lost to follow-up, probably due to the length of this regimen. In all patients that made up the study protocol, complete cure was achieved within seven pulses for group A and 12 weeks for group B. No significant side effects to lead to the cessation of therapy were recorded. Laboratory investigations were performed in 32 randomly chosen patients and were within normal ranges. The response to therapy did not appear to depend upon the formulation administered (capsules versus suspension). Using the pulse regimen, we also believe that it is necessary to individualize the number of pulses administered according to the clinical response. In conclusion, itraconazole proved safe and effective in our study, providing an ideal alternative to griseofulvin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Athens, A. Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koumantaki-Mathioudaki
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Devliotou-Panagiotidou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rallis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Athanassopoulou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koussidou-Eremondi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsambas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frangoulis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008864:Microsporum; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014006:Tinea Capitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole