Comparison of 1% and 2.5% selenium sulfide in the treatment of tinea capitis
T. G. Givens, M. M. Murray and R. C. Baker
Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Ohio, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an over-the-counter shampoo containing 1%
selenium sulfide would have sporicidal activity equal to that of a 2.5%
selenium sulfide prescription lotion in the adjunctive treatment of tinea
capitis infection. DESIGN: Prospective randomized nonblinded clinical
trial. SETTING: Outpatient clinics and emergency department of a children's
hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-four patients between the ages of 1 and 15 years
with culture-proved tinea capitis infection caused by Trichophyton
tonsurans enrolled during a 14-month period. METHODS: Patients were
randomized to receive 2.5% selenium sulfide lotion, 1% selenium sulfide
shampoo, or a bland, nonmedicated shampoo with which they were instructed
to shampoo twice weekly. All received 15 mg/kg per day of griseofulvin.
Dermatophyte cultures of the affected area of each patient's scalp were
obtained on enrollment and every 2 weeks until a negative culture was
obtained from a previously infected area. RESULTS: Survival data analysis
demonstrated that both the 2.5% selenium sulfide and 1% selenium sulfide
preparations were superior to the nonmedicated control shampoo in terms of
the time required to eliminate shedding of viable spores. When compared
with each other, there was no difference between the 2.5% selenium sulfide
and 1% selenium sulfide preparations in time required to produce a negative
culture. CONCLUSION: Commercially available 1% selenium sulfide shampoo is
an equally effective yet less expensive alternative sporicidal therapy in
the adjunctive treatment of tinea capitis infection.
