Tinea capitis: A current perspective

During the past 50 years, the predominant etiologic agent of tinea capitis in the United States and in Western Europe has changed from Microsporum aud ouinii to Trichophyton tonsurans. This is thought to be due in part to the sensitivity of M audouinii to griseofulvin treatment and, in part, due to t he importing of T tonsurans by people emigrating from geographic areas wher e that vector had been the prominent cause of tinea capitis. With these cha nges, prospects for newer therapies with the novel antimycotic agents itrac onazole, fluconazole, and terbinafine are reviewed.