Three cases of perioral dermatitis related to fusobacteria treated with β-lactam antibiotics

Abstract

Background: The oral tetracyclines, especially minocycline hydrochloride, are often used as an effective treatment for perioral dermatitis; however, they are sometimes difficult to use, especially in children, because of the side effects. Objective:The effectiveness of β-lactam antibiotics was evaluated in three cases of perioral dermatitis. Methods: Three Japanese patients with perioral dermatitis were treated with cefcapene pivoxil hydrochloride hydrate per os 100–300 mg/day. They were one girl (aged 10 years) and two adult women (aged 32 and 37 years respectively). One of the adult patients had a past history of Meniere's disease and the other had had a side effect, vertigo, from minocycline hydrochloride treatment. The presence of fusobacteria before and after the treatment was examined using the tape-stripping toluidine blue method. Results:These patients showed the improvement in 1–2 weeks and were much improved or cured after 2–5 weeks. No side effects were found during the treatment. Fusobacteria were positive before treatment but became negative after the treatment in all of them. Conclusion: The β-lactam antibiotics might be a useful treatment for perioral dermatitis, especially in cases who cannot take tetracyclines.

Key words::

• perioral dermatitis
• fusobacteria
• β-lactam antibiotics,
• cefcapene pivoxil hydrochloride hydrate