title: Tinea capitis: diagnostic criteria and treatment options.
abstract: Tinea capitis is a fungal infection involving the hair shaft of the scalp. It is commonly referred to as ringworm and occurs primarily in children. Treatment with a systemic anti-fingal rather than topical treatment is required. Currently, two medications, griseofulvin (Grifulvin) and terbinafine (Lamisil Granules), are FDA-approved to treat tinea capitis. Treatment with griseofulvin is usually 6 to 8 weeks, while treatment with terbinafine requires 6 weeks. There are other medications currently not FDA-approved to treat tinea capitis that have similar cure rates and shorter durations of treatment for tinea capitis, and as a result, are being used off-label. The research-based literature related to the treatment of tinea capitis with various pharmacologic agents is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Mikki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meadows-Oliver
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D014006:Tinea Capitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents