Open clinical study of the efficacy and safety of terbinafine cream 1% in children with tinea corporis and tinea cruris.

BACKGROUND: Topical application of antifungal agents is considered the treatment of choice for dermatomycoses. Most of the available drugs are fungistatic, requiring long term treatment to prevent relapses. Terbinafine is a synthetic antifungal agent that, because of its fungicidal action, provides high cure rates and low relapse rates after short periods of treatment.

METHODS: Ninety-seven children ages 2 to 15 years with a suspected diagnosis of tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris were enrolled in this open trial. After mycologic assessment to confirm diagnosis (culture and direct microscopy) terbinafine 1% cream was applied once daily during 1 week. Clinical and mycologic assessments were made at the baseline visit and on Days 7, 14 and 21. Efficacy assessment was based on 88 children (9 patients excluded by protocol violation).

RESULTS: Therapy was considered effective in 92.0% (81 of 88) of patients (complete clinical and mycologic cure or mycologic cure with minimum signs and symptoms or clinical improvement, > or = 50%). Tolerability was assessed in 97 patients on an intention-to-treat basis. Adverse reactions were itching 3% (3 of 97), itching associated with erythema exacerbation 1% (1 of 97) and contact dermatitis 1% (1 of 97).

CONCLUSION: Terbinafine 1% cream appears to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for tinea corporis and tinea cruris in children.