Barriers to Treatment of Tinea Capitis in Children Living in the Jane Finch Community of Toronto.
BACKGROUND
Tinea capitis is a common fungal infection of the scalp. If left untreated, tinea capitis infection can cause severe inflammatory reactions and the development of kerion. Tinea capitis is effectively treated with oral antifungals, but at present these are not covered under government assistance programs.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the potential impact of a limited use code for antifungal therapy in the treatment of childhood tinea capitis.


METHODS
Fourteen family physicians practicing in the Jane Finch area were surveyed on their experience treating tinea capitis in this community.


RESULTS
Seventy-one percent of surveyed family physicians felt that cost impedes the treatment of tinea capitis in their practice, and 100% felt that a limited use code would have a positive impact on their patients.


CONCLUSIONS
A limited use code for oral antifungal treatments of tinea capitis may provide a simple, cost-effective solution to a major problem impacting children in the Jane Finch area.
Shapero Dermatology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada rzur@qmed.ca.
Rebecca L
RL
Zur
Shapero Dermatology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jonathan
J
Shapero
Shapero Dermatology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Harvey
H
Shapero
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011203:Poverty; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014006:Tinea Capitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000935:Antifungal Agents
infectious disease; inflammatory dermatoses; pediatric