Griseofulvin Therapy for Superficial Fungus Infections: Effect upon Concurrent Diseases

Shortly after Dr. Harvey Blank reported on his amazing results in the treatment of certain fungus infections of the skin with griseofulvin last January, we were confronted with the problem of an outbreak of tinea capitis among child patients in a tuberculosis hospital. There were 11 children, 9 of them infected with Microsporum audouini and 2 with Microsporum lanosum. It would have been almost impossible to contain the outbreak, for eradication of the disease by topical therapy would have taken months of effort, epilation by means of x-rays was not feasible, and shaving the heads could have been undertaken only with the greatest reluctance because of the depressing psychological effect upon youngsters already suffering from such trauma. Were it not for the experiences of Dr. Blank and his associates, 1,2 which showed the drug to be not only effective for tinea capitis but also apparently safe to use, we might