Tinea capitis: fluconazole in Trichophyton tonsurans infection.

Tinea capitis is the most common dermatophyte infection in children. Trichophyton tonsurans is the most common etiologic agent in the United States, and for more than four decades the standard therapy has been griseofulvin. The availability of newer, and often more effective, antifungal drugs creates the opportunity for choice and the ability to optimally tailor treatment for a particular patient. Fluconazole is an azole antifungal drug available in a pleasant, well-tolerated, liquid formulation ideal for the pediatric population. It has a good safety profile and is approved in the United States for use in children, although not for tinea capitis. We present five patients with tinea capitis successfully treated with fluconazole.