Grace Lauren Santoso
Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Title: Comparison of 80% trichloroacetic acid with 10% potassium hydroxide in the treatment of pediatric molluscum contagiosum
Biography
Biography: Grace Lauren Santoso
Abstract
Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin infection caused by Molluscum contagiosum virus and often occurs in children at school age. The modalities of treatment are many but not a single therapy has consensus approval for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum in children. Mechanical destruction is associated with pain and not tolerated by children. We reported a 9-year-old boy with multiple lesions on his face for 3 months. Dermatology examination demonstrated multiple typical dome-shaped, pearly-white umbilicated papules on infraorbita, nasolabial and forehead region. Histopathology examination showed intracytoplasmic inclusions bodies. Patient was given topical anesthesia to some lesions for 60 minutes, then vaseline to the surrounding skin of the lesions to be treated, followed by 80% TCA application with toothpick applicator until white frost appeared. Patient described only a stinging sensation and generally tolerated the application well. We then advised the parents to apply 10% KOH solution to each remaining lesion twice daily with a cotton-tipped applicator. At a one-month follow-up, we found complete clearance with hypopigmentation of lesions applied with 80% TCA and no changes of lesions applied with 10% KOH solution. Management using TCA is more painful and leaves hypopigmented patch that will resolve in a short time, whereas KOH is safer and painless but takes longer time to treat therefore parents might prefer TCA application due to faster resolution.