For a patient with tinea capitis, what is an appropriate treatment?

For a patient with tinea capitis, the appropriate treatment involves using an antifungal medication that is effective against the specific fungi causing the infection, which typically includes dermatophytes. Grisofulvin, when taken orally, is particularly effective for this condition because it is specifically designed to target the fungal cells in hair and nails, where tinea capitis frequently manifests.

In the case of tinea capitis, localized topical treatments such as creams are generally insufficient because the infection resides deeper in the hair follicles and scalp. Oral medications, like grisofulvin, allow for systemic treatment and better penetration into the hair follicles, thereby effectively clearing the infection.

This makes grisofulvin the preferred choice among the options provided, as it aligns with the established guidelines for treating tinea capitis, while the other treatments listed are either topical agents that do not suffice for this deep-seated infection or are more suitable for different types of skin infections.