Sertaconazole in the treatment of pediatric patients with cutaneous dermatophyte infections.

Sertaconazole is a new topical anti-mycotic with demonstrated efficacy against dermatophyte infections in adults. An open-label, multicenter study was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerability of sertaconazole in children in primary care. Twenty-nine children were initially included in the study and tolerability was assessed in all of them. The 16 children examined for efficacy (8 girls and 8 boys, aged 2 to 16 years) all had culture-confirmed cutaneous mycoses. Fourteen children had tinea corporis, 1 had tinea cruris, and 1 had tinea pedis. Microsporum canis was identified in 50% of cultures and Trichophyton rubrum in 42%. Patient lesions were treated with 2% sertaconazole cream during a 2-week period. Clinical cure was achieved in 31% of patients after 1 week, 75% after 2 weeks, and 100% after 4 weeks. No local or systemic adverse effects were observed. It is concluded that once-daily topical sertaconazole is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for pediatric patients with dermatophytosis.