General resistance of dermatophytes to griseofulvin

Abstract EN

Objective: To determine the effect and resistance of oral griseofulvin in the treatment of tinea capitis and dermatophytes. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at Prince Rashid Bin AL-Hassan Hospital in Irbid, Jordan, from January 2002 to January 2003.

Data were randomly collected from 60 patients with age group ranging from (8-18 years) and average age of (12.73 ± 2.79) years.(30 males; 30 females).

Tinea capitis was diagnosed by direct microscopy of the hair.

Patients were divided into three groups regarding the reception of oral griseofulvin in three divided periods.

Follow up visits took place at 6 and 12 weeks.

The absence of tinea spores and mycilia on microscopic examination was considered as a cure. Results: Patients who received the treatment for the first time showed the highest rate of cure which reached 85% after 6 weeks and 95% after 12 weeks.

But those who received griseofulvin for the second time showed 60% cure after 6 weeks and 85% after 12 weeks.

Those who received the medicine for the third time showed 45% cure after 6 weeks and 60%> after 12 weeks. Conclusion: These findings suggest that griseofulvin is effective in the treatment of tinea capitis if given for the first time in patients life time.

It also shows that repeated therapy with griseofulvin increases the resistance of fungus infection to the drug.