Post 9/11, kerion treatment changed

Concerns about terroristic attacks on nuclear power plants led many communities to distribute potassium iodide to people in the surrounding area, making this tablet – commonly used to treat kerions – difficult to come by.

In response to the new demand for potassium iodide, researchers at Drexel University in Philadelphia sought alternative kerion treatments and may have found a more effective one.

Meghan O’Brien, of Drexel University, presented data at the 67^th Annual American Academy of Dermatology Meeting on what she dubbed a “new treatment paradigm” for kerions. Traditionally, the treatment of kerions has been directed at the underlying dermatophyte, often using griseofulvin. But O’Brien said that their research indicates that the inflammation itself is what should be the initial focus of treatment.

In a poster, O’Brien and colleagues detailed treatment outcomes for 39 cases of kerion, 25 of which received potassium iodide 3 and 14 received oral prednisone.

O’Brien said in the earlier study group, pre-2001, 18 of 25 patients responded within two weeks of treatment with potassium iodide, and others responded within four weeks. However, in the prednisone group, some patients achieved resolution as early as one week, with a median of two weeks. She said this was noted even in two patients who received only prednisone, with no griseofulvin use.

O’Brien said their data indicate that kerions should be treated with short-courses of systemic prednisone, similar to treatment of poison ivy with treating shampoo. – by Colleen Zacharyczuk

For more information:

O’Brien M. #P206. Presented at: the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology; March 6-10, 2009; San Francisco.