Tinea capitis: itraconazole in Trichophyton tonsurans infection.

Abstract

Although griseofulvin is considered the standard treatment of tinea capitis, alternatives are being investigated in hopes of identifying more rapid and better cure rates. Our purpose was to determine the efficacy of itraconazole as therapy for tinea capitis. An open label study was performed on three patients who did not respond to or could not tolerate griseofulvin therapy. A 30-day course of 100 mg of itraconazole daily resulted in clinical and mycologic cure in all three patients; no side effects were reported. Although these results need to be confirmed by larger, controlled trials, it appears that itraconazole offers a viable alternative to griseofulvin for the treatment of children with tinea capitis.