CURRENT STATUS OF GRISEOFULVIN

Griseofulvin, an antibiotic, was used in treating diseases of the skin in 175 patients with various types of ringworm infection. The largest single group consisted of 22 patients who took griseofulvin by mouth in doses of 250 to 500 mg. four times a day for treatment of tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton rubrum. In this group of 22, 3 patients were cleared of lesions, 8 improved, 1 was somewhat relieved, and 10 had not taken the drug long enough for evaluation. A group of four patients with tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis were cleared of all lesions by taking 250 mg. by mouth four times a day for four to eight weeks. Among the 84 who took the drug by mouth, only 9 reported side-effects, and these were neither serious nor lasting. In some of the 91 patients who received the drug topically complete clearing of the skin lesions was achieved. Topical administration is important for tinea pedis, since oral administration of griseofulvin for this condition gave erratic results.