Efficacy and Safety of Oral Griseofulvin versus Oral Terbinafine in Pediatrics Patients with Tinea Capitis: A Comparative Study

Background: Fungal infections are a major concern for both patients and treating physician, especially those affecting skin. Dermatophytosis/tinea is one of the most common skin diseases affecting people across the world; caused by superficial fungus which invade and multiply within the keratinized tissue (skin, hair, nails). Approximately, 20-25% of the world population is affected by tinea. Aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of oral griseofulvin and oral terbinafine in tinea capitis among children aged 3–14 years. Methods: This open-label, prospective, comparative study was conducted at Department of Pharmacology with collaboration of Pediatrics and Dermatology department of JLNMCH, Bhagalpur, Bihar from January 2023 to June 2023. Children between the ages of 3 and 14 years were enrolled for over 24 months. Patients with clinically diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed tinea capitis were randomized into two groups of 50 each. Group A was given oral griseofulvin for 8 weeks and Group B was given oral terbinafine for 4 weeks. Results: Early response was obtained in Group B treated with terbinafine, and a statistically significant reduction in clinical symptoms was obtained at 4 weeks compared to griseofulvin with P = 0.044. Mycological cure was achieved at the end of 6 weeks in the terbinafine group, with P = 0.034 compared to the griseofulvin group in which 3 patients remained KOH positive at 8 weeks. Conclusion: Both drugs were well tolerated with no serious adverse effects. Terbinafine is an effective alternative to griseofulvin in pediatric patients with tinea capitis with a shorter duration of treatment and fewer adverse effects.