Medications

Scalp ringworm must be treated systemically (with medicine that spreads throughout the body) to penetrate the hair follicle.

• Griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grisactin) has been the drug of choice since 1958 because of its safety. The usual dose involves taking the medicine every day with a fatty meal to enhance absorption for 6-8 weeks. Therapy should continue until the culture shows that no fungi are present. Side effects caused by griseofulvin, such as headaches and GI disturbances, are rare. Routine liver and blood monitoring are not necessary for healthy children with scalp ringworm.

• The following are available to those who are allergic to or not responsive to griseofulvin:
  
  
  • Itraconazole (Sporanox)
    
    
  • Fluconazole (Diflucan)
    
    
  • Terbinafine (Lamisil)
    
    
• For inflammatory scalp ringworm: Prednisone during the first 10-15 days of treatment can be added for symptom relief, but no data have shown an increase in cure rate.