A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TOPICAL TCAA 30% VERSUS SURGICAL REMOVAL IN TREATMENT OF MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM IN CHILDREN.

Background:- Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin disorder mainly infecting children, and a pox virus causes it. This study was prepared to compare the efficacy, safety, cure rate, and recurrence of topical treatment versus surgical removal of MC. Methods:- A total of 84 patients included in this study, and divided to receive treatment with either topical trichloroacetic acid 30% group( A) for seven days or surgical removal group (B) for one session, until clinical cure observed, the total time of treatment four weeks. Each group included 42 patients. A one year follow up after clinical cure with regular visits every two months to assess the efficacy of treatment, adverse reactions, and recurrence. Results:- In patients with topical treatment group (A), the cure rate was 88.I % (37 of 42) after two weeks of treatment, the other 11.9% (5 of 42) healed by the end of 4 weeks. Whereas in the group (B) 57.1% (24of 42) cleared after two weeks, and the remaining 18 (42.8%) were affected by secondary infection and they cleared by the end of 4th week. However, in the group (A), five patients 11.9% experienced recurrences of molluscum contagiosum after four months. While in group (B) patients, recurrence of lesions reported in 54.7% (23of 42) who underwent frequent surgical removal through multiple visits during one year. Conclusion:- Topical treatment of molluscum contagiosum has more efficacy, safety, and low cost than surgical removal. The recurrence rate is significantly less with topical treatment than with surgical removal.