INTRODUCTION
Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is one of the 50 most prevalent diseases worldwide.1 This common cutaneous infection mainly affects children, with the greatest incidence occurring in individuals aged 1–14 years.2,3 The MC virus is most commonly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact with infected skin, contaminated objects (eg, bath towels, toys, and clothing), autoinoculation,4 and sexual transmission.3
MC lesions can cause pain, pruritus, may become infected, and have been shown to negatively impact quality of life (QoL).5 One study found that in untreated immunocompetent children, MC infections lasted an average of 13 months, and persisted in 30% of children after 18 months, and in 13% of children after 24 months.6 MC is likely to have a substantial effect on the QoL on 10% of children with the infection, and a moderate effect has been documented in 17.3% of patients.5
Currently there are no approved treatments for MC in the United States (US). Although a variety of topical therapies, physical modalities, and destructive approaches are used to treat MC, no single therapeutic approach has been shown to be consistently
MC lesions can cause pain, pruritus, may become infected, and have been shown to negatively impact quality of life (QoL).5 One study found that in untreated immunocompetent children, MC infections lasted an average of 13 months, and persisted in 30% of children after 18 months, and in 13% of children after 24 months.6 MC is likely to have a substantial effect on the QoL on 10% of children with the infection, and a moderate effect has been documented in 17.3% of patients.5
Currently there are no approved treatments for MC in the United States (US). Although a variety of topical therapies, physical modalities, and destructive approaches are used to treat MC, no single therapeutic approach has been shown to be consistently