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Systemic antifungals for pediatric onychomycosis show promising results

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Based on the limited information available for onychomycosis in children, systemic antifungals therapies in children are safe and their cure rates are similar to the rates achieved in adults, according to findings presented during the American Academy of Dermatology’s 71st Annual Meeting under way this week.

Aditya Gupta, MD, PhD, of Mediprobe Research Inc. in London, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues searched PubMed and Embase databases and the references section of related publications through March 2012 for clinical trials, retrospective analyses and case reports on the use of systemic antifungals for onychomycosis in children aged younger than 18 years. English-language publications on monotherapy and combination therapy with topical antifungals were included in the search, according to the study findings.

Of the 26 studies that met inclusion criteria, including five clinical trials, three retrospective analyses and 18 case reports published between 1976 and 2011, most reported the use of systemic terbinafine and itraconazole for the treatment of onychomycosis in children.

Monotherapy with systemic antifungals in children aged 1 to 17 years resulted in a complete cure rate of 70.8% vs. combined systematic and topical antifungal therapy in one infant and 19 children aged 8 years and older, which resulted in a complete cure rate of 80% (16/20).

The efficacy and safety profiles of terbinafine, itraconazole, griseofulvin and fluconazole in children were similar to those previously reported for the adult population, according to the study results.

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Gupta A. #P7052. Presented at: AAD 2013 Annual Meeting; March 1-5, 2013; Miami Beach, Fla.