Experience with molluscum contagiosum : a descriptive (case-series)‎ study of 467 patients in Al-Diwaniya and evaluation of their modes of treatment

الملخص EN

Background : Molluscum contagiosum MC is a benign viral infection of the skin it is most easily transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact, especially in three groups which are primarily affected i.e.

young children,sexuallyactive adults, and immunosuppressed persons, especially those with HIV infection but in Iraq its epidemiology is largely unknown, despite the fact that large outbreaks have occurred in recent years.

Objective : This study was aimed at providing information on series of 467 cases of MC patients with efficacy of 2 modes of treatment (tretinoin and curettage) in Al-diwaniya.

Methods : In this decriptive case series study, 467 patients were identified as having MC by dermatologists in Al-Diwanyia Teaching Hospital ,over period of 5 months (from September 2013 to January 2014 ).

Patients age and gender, duration of the disease in months, site, number of the lesions, family history and mode of treatment.

404 patients were treated by curettage, while 63 were treated by tretinoin.

We evaluate the response to treatment, recurrences and adverse effects.

Results : 467 patients were studied, their ages ranged from (9months-56years).

There were 201 (43 %) females and 266 (57 %) males.

The healthy adults between (30-50) had 1st peak of incidence in our patients ; the face was highly significant involved in adults (P values < 0.001) and had low percentage in the genital area (6.5 %) which indicating sexual transmission was not the main way of transmission.

Again the children had the 2nd peak of incidence Curettage method was used in the majority of the patients.

It is cheap, effective with no side effects, however there was 9 % recurrences.

Topical retinoic acid 0.05 % daily had taken 1-2 weeks.

None of the patients experienced a serious adverse effect apart from irrtation and inflammation of the lesions .After resolution, there was no recurrence of the lesions in this way of treatment.

Conclusion : The results showed that there is an up surge of MC infection in Al-diwaniya, Iraq.

The healthy adults between (30-50) had 1st peak of incidence in our patients with highly significant involvement of the face in adults.

Sexual transmission was not the main way of transmission.

Curettage is cheap, effective with no side effects, but with some recurrences Topical retinoic acid was effective with no recurrence of the lesions.