title: Antifungal therapy for onychomycosis in children.
abstract: Onychomycosis is a chronic infection of the nail unit, and its prevalence increases with age. Treatment options for children are similar to those for adults and include both oral and topical therapies. Oral agents, such as terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole have been reported to have good efficacy and a low rate of side effects in children. Topical therapies, such as amorolfine and ciclopirox, can also be used as monotherapy or combined with oral agents to treat onychomycosis. Due to their thinner, faster-growing nails, children are more likely to respond to topical monotherapy than adults. There is currently insufficient data comparing emerging medical devices, such as laser therapy, with standard therapeutic options to recommend their use in children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 8010 Frost St. Suite 602, San Diego, CA 92123.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feldstein
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 8010 Frost St. Suite 602, San Diego, CA 92123.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Totri
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 8010 Frost St. Suite 602, San Diego, CA 92123. Electronic address: sfriedlander@rchsd.org.
authors.forename: Sheila Fallon
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Friedlander
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents