Efficacy of Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum with Curettage Method

Park, Saebomi; Park, Eun Joo; Kwon, In Ho; Kim, Kwang Ho; Kim, Kwang Joong

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a frequently occurring viral infection, which affects children and adults. Although spontaneous clearance occurs in months to years, many patients are bothered by its prolonged course. Though various treatment trials, including topical treatments are reported, and curettage technique is most commonly used.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to evaluate the outcome and efficacy of curettage treatment, and to find out the risk factors that are associated with treatment failure of MC removal by surgical curettage.
METHODS
A total of 39 patients with MC were treated by surgical curettage, under topical anesthesia. Follow up evaluation and treatment was performed in week 4 and in week 8, after the initial visit.
RESULTS
After first curettage treatment, 25 out of 39 patients (64.1%) were cured. The recurrence rate of the MC lesion was 35.9% (14 out of 39), 35.71% (5 out of 14) in week 4 and in week 8, respectively. No severe adverse reaction was reported. Risk factors for treatment failure were the number of lesions at day 0 (p=0.036 and p=0.031, at week 4 and 8 respectively).
CONCLUSION
Successive scheduled curettage was found to be an effective treatment for MC. Numbers of initial lesions came out to be a major risk factor for the treatment failure.