Parents of 30 children with clinically diagnosed molluscum contagiosum were surveyed to assess their perception of the condition, its treatment, its impact on their everyday lives, and on the children themselves. Among parents, 82% reported that molluscum contagiosum concerned them moderately or greatly. Concerns focused on physical issues associated with the infection, such as scarring, itching, chance of spread to peers, pain, and the effects of treatments. Quality of life was not affected. Molluscum contagiosum was most common among school-age children. Eighteen of 29 respondents swam in public pools, a common activity in children of this age. All epidemiologic studies of molluscum contagiosum in otherwise healthy individuals, published since 1966, have been critically reviewed herein. The review confirms an association between swimming pool use and molluscum contagiosum. Age, living in close proximity, skin-to-skin contact, sharing of fomites, and residence in tropical climates were also associated with higher rates of infection while sex, seasonality, and hygiene showed no such association.
The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of combination therapy for molluscum contagiosum (MC) with topical cantharidin and imiquimod 5%. A prospective case series of 16 paediatric patients with a mean age of 4.8 years had cantharidin applied to lesions by a dermatologist, followed by home treatment with imiquimod 5% cream nightly for an average of 5 weeks. This regimen resulted in >90% of lesions clearing in 12 patients, with half of these being totally clear. Two patients had 80-90% of lesions resolve. Two patients had 30-50% clearance of lesions at the end of the treatment period. One patient found the cantharidin reaction too strong. The mean number of imiquimod 250 mg sachets used was 4.25. In conclusion, this study suggests that combination therapy using cantharidin and imiquimod for treatment of MC in children is effective and well tolerated.
A young girl with PHACE syndrome presented with a posterior fossa malformation, a segmental telangiectatic right facial haemangioma, a novel aortic arch anomaly, a congenital right fourth cranial nerve palsy (not previously described in this syndrome) and Horner's syndrome. Hydrocephalus was limited to the intrauterine period and detection of the cardiovascular anomalies was a direct result of recognition of this syndrome. She has received laser treatment for the haemangioma and is awaiting surgical correction of her cranial nerve palsy.
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