title: Safety and efficacy of terbinafine in a pediatric Iranian cohort of patients with Tinea capitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tinea capitis is a common infection of the scalp and hair shaft caused by dermatophyte fungi that mainly affects prepubescent children. Systemic therapy is required for treatment and to prevent spread. The aim of present study was to assess the effect of terbinafine for Tinea capitis treatment in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty Iranian pediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of Tinea capitis were enrolled in the study. The Study was conducted in a general and referral teaching hospital (Imam Medical Centre - Tehran, Iran) from 2006 to 2007. Eligible patients with less than 20 kg of body weight were given 62.5 mg terbinafine, and for patients between 20 and 40 kg the dose was 125 mg, on the first visit. All patients had the second clinical visit and second samples for microscopic study were taken. For each patient, direct mycology test (KOH test) and mycological culture were carried out before the study was started and after second, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth weeks. Probable drug's adverse effects were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the results of mycological culture of patients' lesions, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton sheonlini were considered as major causes of Tinea capitis in these children. Out of 30 study patients, KOH test of 93% in the 5th week and 100% in the 6th week was negative. All patients healed completely from signs of infection, after six weeks. Also, no severe side effects were seen in any patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of this study, the use of terbinafine is an effective therapy in Iranian cases of Tinea capitis in children without severe side effects.
authors: Isfahan Pharmaceutical Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Ali M
authors: AM
authors: Sabzghabaee
authors: Parwin
authors: P
authors: Mansouri
authors: Mahboobeh
authors: M
authors: Mohammadi
keywords: Clinical trial; Terbinafine; Tinea capitis
references: J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997 Aug;37(2 Pt 1):272-3
references: 9270519
references: Acta Derm Venereol. 1991;71(4):322-6
references: 1681649
references: Clin Microbiol Rev. 1999 Oct;12(4):501-17
references: 10515900
references: Clin Exp Dermatol. 1989 Mar;14(2):124-7
references: 2689015
references: Br J Dermatol. 1996 Dec;135(6):955-8
references: 8977718
references: Am Fam Physician. 2003 Jan 1;67(1):101-8
references: 12537173
references: Mycoses. 1996 Jul-Aug;39(7-8):299-301
references: 9009649
references: Ann Pharmacother. 1997 Apr;31(4):406-10
references: 9100999
references: J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 Jan;42(1 Pt 1):80-4
references: 10607324
references: Pediatrics. 2002 Apr;109(4):602-7
references: 11927703
references: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Oct 17;(4):CD004685
references: 17943825
references: Br J Dermatol. 1996 Jun;134 Suppl 46:7-11: discussion 37-8
references: 8763460
references: Br J Dermatol. 1996 Jul;135(1):86-8
references: 8776365
references: Am J Med. 2007 Sep;120(9):791-8
references: 17765049
references: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 1998 Sep;11(2):141-6
references: 9784040
references: Br J Dermatol. 2001 Feb;144(2):321-7
references: 11251566
references: J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 Sep;31(3 Pt 2):S42-6
references: 8077507
references: BMJ. 2003 Mar 8;326(7388):539-41
references: 12623917
references: Br J Dermatol. 1995 May;132(5):683-9
references: 7772471
references: N Z Med J. 1998 Feb 27;111(1060):55-7
references: 9539918
references: Mycoses. 2004 Oct;47(9-10):428-30
references: 15504128
references: Pediatr Emerg Care. 2007 Sep;23(9):662-5; quiz 666-8
references: 17876261
references: Br J Dermatol. 1995 Jan;132(1):98-105
references: 7756158