Background: The infection called Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is caused by a virus called a poxvirus and is characterized by small dome-shaped bumps on a child’s skin. MC is often treated with various treatments (some have been around for a long time) however, the best possible options will be safe, effective, easy to apply and tolerated well by children. This study was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of the use of topical 10% Potassium Hydrate (KOH) to the use of intralesional measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination when using those two treatments for caregivers who have a child with Molluscum contagiosum.
Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 60 children (1-12 years old) with clinically diagnosed molluscum contagiosum and randomly assigned them to two groups of 30. Group A had topical 10% KOH applied, while Group B was treated using intralesional MMR vaccine. Following up for two years, including six months after treatment, the researchers assessed and compared the two groups on treatment response, lesion clearance rate, recurrence rate, and adverse effects associated with the respective treatments.
Results: A complete clearance of the lesions occurred in 86.7% of the patients who received the MMR treatment; however, only 70% had total lesion clearance in the KOH group (p<.05). All MMR-treated lesions will resolve within an average of four weeks; however, many KOH-receiving lesions will have a longer resolution time. Patients who had an intralesional injection of MMR had fewer adverse events (pain, redness, hyperpigmentation) compared to KOH-treated patients. Additionally, patients who received intralesional injection of MMR had fewer instances of recurrence of the lesion.
Conclusion: The use of the MMR vaccine injected under the skin has been proven to be a better treatment than using a topical solution of (potassium hydroxide) KOH 10%, and is therefore considered superior. There is evidence that the MMR vaccine will clear more molluscum faster, have less reoccurrence, and be better tolerated than topical treatments, thereby supporting its use in patients who have multiple lesions or who have not responded to previous treatments.