Treatment of tinea capitis - griseofulvin versus fluconazole - a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of fluconazole and griseofulvin in the treatment of tinea capitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with tinea capitis (n = 113) with positive fungal cultures entered the study. The patients were divided into four groups with different treatment regimes. Two groups received griseofulvin 15 or 25 mg/kg/day and two groups received fluconazole 4 or 6 mg/kg/day, all for up to 12 weeks.

RESULTS: Griseofulvin was found to be slightly better than fluconazole. The lower doses for both griseofulvin and fluconazole required significantly longer treatment duration until mycological cure than the higher doses, independent of the fungus type.

CONCLUSIONS: Since no significant difference was found between the drugs, it is suggested that the choice should be based on tolerability, availability and cost of the drugs.