"Griseofulvin" for children: instructions for use

Fungal diseases is a very unpleasant problem that often appears in childhood. For the treatment of tissues affected by fungi, special antifungal drugs are used, which include Griseofulvin. This medicine has a direct effect on certain types of fungi that can affect the nails, skin and hair.

Griseofulvin is available in the form of white-cream tablets that have a bitter taste and no smell. They are sold for 20 pieces in a pack and as an active ingredient contain an ingredient, which is also called griseofulvin. Its dosage in each tablet is 125 mg. In addition, the medicine includes povidone, potato starch, milk sugar and calcium stearate.

In Griseofulvin, they note the ability to act on dermatophyte fungi, which provoke the development of ringworm, as they feed on keratin. Such fungi are represented by three genera - Epidermophyton, Trichophyton and Microsporum. The active substance of tablets disrupts their structure and prevents the formation of cell walls, and also suppresses their division and stops protein synthesis. Once ingested, griseofulvin accumulates in the skin, nails and hair, making keratin more resistant to the effects of fungi. Gradually infected keratin is separated and replaced by healthy, which leads to the disposal of fungal invasion.

The active ingredient of the drug is well absorbed, especially if you simultaneously give the patient fatty foods. After ingestion, its concentration in the blood increases in 4–5 hours, after which griseofulvin is metabolized in the liver cells, and then leaves the body with urine and through the intestines.

Given the mechanism of action of the drug, Griseofulvin is prescribed for mycosis, which affects the skin, nails and hair. Such a drug is in demand in the treatment of microsporia (ringworm), athlete, onychomycosis, favus and trichophytia.

According to the instructions, treatment with Griseofulvin is allowed from the age of 3, but if necessary, the doctor can prescribe such antifungal medicine and the younger child, choosing the right dosage, taking into account the age of the baby.

Griseofulvin is not prescribed in such cases:

• the child has increased sensitivity to any ingredient of the pill;
• tests showed leukopenia or some systemic blood diseases;
• the patient was diagnosed with renal disease;
• with lupus erythematosus or lupus erythematosus syndrome;
• disruption of the liver;
• with malignant neoplasms;
• with porphyria.

During treatment with Griseofulvin, various negative symptoms may occur, for example:

• headaches;
• skin rash;
• feeling weak;
• nausea;
• insomnia;
• pruritus;
• diarrhea;
• dizziness;
• hand paresthesia;
• stomatitis;
• hives;
• stomach ache;
• redness of the skin.

In case of overdose of tablets, the same symptoms occur, and symptomatic agents are used to eliminate them.

Tablets are given to children after meals, and the dosage per day is calculated by weight, taking into account the disease. For example, if a child has trichophytosis, then the number of kilograms is multiplied by 18 mg, and with ringworm - by 21-22 mg. The daily dose can be drunk once or divided into several doses.

The duration of application depends on the localization of mycosis. For example, if the fungus struck the scalp, tablets are drunk for 4 to 6 weeks, and for mycosis of the fingers, the medicine must be given for several months.

Since Griseofulvin affects the functioning of the liver, it can reduce the activity of certain drugs, for example, drugs that belong to indirect-type angio-coagulants. When administered with barbiturates, the antifungal effect of the drug is reduced.

If a child has a damaged scalp, hair is shaved once a week.

You can buy Griseofulvin at a pharmacy only by prescription, so an examination by a specialist before starting treatment with such a remedy is obligatory. The average price of one pack of tablets is 220–260 rubles.

Store the drug at home should be below + 20 ° C. The shelf life of the drug - 3.5 years from the date of manufacture.

In most reviews, Griseofulvin is called an effective remedy that helped get rid of lichen and other fungal diseases.

However, such a drug has a lot of disadvantages, for example, an unpleasant taste, a solid form (the drug is not released in suspension), the need to drink oil, adverse reactions and a long course of therapy.

If treatment with Griseofulvin is impossible for some reason, the doctor will prescribe another antifungal agent that will act on the same types of fungi. Griseofulvin-Farcos can be used for the local treatment of the areas affected by fungi. Salicylic acid was added to griseofulvin in this liniment. The drug is used from the age of 14.

Several drugs can be attributed to Griseofulvin's analogues.

• Nizoral These ketoconazole tablets are prescribed for children over 3 years old. The drug is also available in the form of a cream and shampoo.
• Lamisil. This cream can be used for fungal infections in children over 12 years old. The effect of the drug is due to terbinafine.
• Mikospor. This medicine contains bifonazole and is used in children only under the supervision of a physician. It comes in the form of a cream and solution for outdoor use.

More information about fungal infections and their treatment, see the transfer of Dr. Komarovsky.