TERBINAFINE PULSE THERAPY IS EFFECTIVE IN TINEA-CAPITIS

Terbinafine pulse therapy was found to be effective and safe in the tr eatment of tinea capitis in an open study of 13 children (age range 3- 13 years, mean 6.4 years, 7 males, 6 females, Tricohphyton tonsurans 7 patients, 7, violaceum 6 patients). Each pulse of active therapy last ed 1 week with a 2 weeks off period between the first two pulses and a 3 weeks off period between the second and third pulses of treatment. The dosage of terbinafine was determined by the weight of the child: > 40 kg, 250 mg/day, 20 to 40 kg, 125 mg/day and < 20 kg, 62.5 mg/day. Twelve (92.3%) of 13 children achieved complete clinical and mycologic al cure when evaluated 12 weeks after starting therapy with the number of pulses for complete (clinical and mycological) cure being one puls e (two patients with mild severity of tinea capitis), two pulses (four patients with mild disease) and three pulses (mild disease: two patie nts, moderate disease: two patients, and severe disease: three patient s). One child with moderate severity disease failed to clear after thr ee pulses of terbinafine. There were no adverse effects observed in an y of the 13 patients during the course of therapy, All the parents fou nd it easy to administer therapy and the compliance was high.