Refractory Demodex folliculitis in five children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Author(s): Herron MD, O'reilly MA, Vanderhooft SL

Affiliation(s): Department of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.

Publication date & source: 2005-09, Pediatr Dermatol., 22(5):407-11.

Publication type: Case Reports

We report five children with acute lymphocytic leukemia on maintenance chemotherapy who had Demodex folliculitis. None experienced complete clearing when treated with permethrin 5% cream. Topical metronidazole helped to lessen the eruption in four, but did not provide full clearing. The one child who was treated with sodium sulfacetamide 10%, sulfur 5% formulation had resolution of the eruption. We suggest that treatment of Demodex folliculitis in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia is more difficult than is suggested in the literature. Newer sodium sulfacetamide/sulfur formulations should be considered when treating this condition, particularly in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.