Refractory Demodex Folliculitis in Five Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Herron, Mark D. M.D.
O'Reilly, Margretta A. M.D.
Vanderhooft, Sheryll L. M.D.

Department of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah

Address correspondence to Sheryll L. Vanderhooft, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 South 1900 East, 4B454 School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, or e-mail: [email protected]

Pediatric Dermatology 22(5):p 407-411, September-October 2005.

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.