How Can Tinea Capitis Caused By Microsporum Canis Be Treated?

Posted on Thu, 27 Jul 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 Answered on

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, my question relates to tinea capitis caused by microsporum canis. My doctor prescribed me itraconazole, but as this comdition is rare in my country I didn't get propert medical advice. I took 4 pulses of intraconazole 2x100mg and felt no improvement. Then I took Lamisil 250 mg a day and still no improvement. After reading a lot I decided to try intraconazole again, but this time I bought it in Switzerland, made by Sandoz. I just started new treatmemt and want to ask you about your suggestion regarding type of therapy. Would you suggest pulse therapy and if so, why? Do you think that continuous treatment would be safer for me as one pulse therapy failed. I suspect that the product wasn't the best but I have no proof. The product meaning the itraconazole that I had taken earlier. Thank you very much

Answered by Dr. Geeta Sundar (58 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
fungi lie deep inside the skin and can be accessed only by continuous oral treatment.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome to HealthcareMagic.

You should take continuous treatment (not pulse) for a week followed by once a week for minimum 8 weeks or until cured. My experience is more with Fluconazole, (50 mg a day followed by 150 mg a week) but I guess others should also work.

The problem is the fungi lie deep inside the skin and can be accessed only by oral treatment.

You can also simultaneously do local treatment--first gently rub the scalp with your fingers dipped in warm oil to bring out the fungi to the surface, then use any anti-fungal lotion (gently rub in), leave for 20 minutes and then wash with mild shampoo. Repeat this twice a week.

Feel free to ask further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee