Oral Clarithromycin Therapy for Perioral Dermatitis in Children: A Retrospective Case-series Study

Background: Effective treatments for pediatric periorificial dermatitis are limited. We assessed the clinical utility of oral Clarithromycin (CLR) in pediatric patients with periorificial dermatitis. Methods and Findings: A retrospective medical record review of pediatric patients with periorificial dermatitis was performed. A total of 39 pediatric patients with periorificial dermatitis received prescription of oral CLR during January 2021 and February 2023. The median age at diagnosis was 5.3 ± 3.9 years (interquartile rage 2-9). Except 8 who did not revisit the clinic and could not obtain safety data, none of 31 experienced adverse events during CLR meditation. Among 31 cases who revisited the clinic, we selected 25 cases for efficacy evaluation and excluded 6 cases who stopped medication by their own reason and/or did not take medication regularly as prescribed. Twenty-five cases included 13 females and 12 meles and average age was 6.2 ± 4.2 years (interquartile rage 2-9). Twenty-three cases achieved Complete Response (CR) by CLR: 18 achieved CR in 4 weeks and 5 achieved CR in 8 weeks. One case showed partial response (PR) by CLR and one case worsen after CLR administration with cessation of TCI. Among 23 CR cases, 7 cases (30%) had relapsed during 1.5 to 19 months after CR. All of relapse cases achieved CR by readministration of CLR. Conclusion: Oral clarithromycin is an effective and well tolerated therapeutic option for pediatric patients with periorificial dermatitis.