Parental satisfaction, efficacy, and adverse events in 54 patients treated with cantharidin for molluscum contagiosum infection.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the efficacy, tolerability, and parental satisfaction of cantharidin in a patient population at a pediatric dermatology referral center.

METHODS:

Chart review was completed for 110 patients who presented with molluscum infection and were treated with cantharidin. A total of 54 were available for follow-up by telephone interview regarding adverse effects, parental satisfaction, and overall clearance of the infection.

RESULTS:

Of those who were reachable, 96% improved after treatment with cantharidin. Parental satisfaction was 78%. Patients received an average of 2.2 treatments irrespective of outcome. Overall, 46% of patients experienced adverse events, including pain, pruritus, secondary infection, brisk immune response, and temporary hypopigmentation and 9% experienced an adverse event that they classified as severe.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results contribute to the data supporting cantharidin as a safe and effective treatment of molluscum contagiosum. Compared with other treatments, it appears to be equally effective and well-tolerated and should be considered a potential front-line treatment.

• Authors: Shelley Cathcart, Jacqueline Coloe, Dean S Morrell
• Journal: Clinical pediatrics (Clin Pediatr (Phila)) Vol. 48 Issue 2 Pg. 161-5 (Mar 2009) ISSN: 0009-9228 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18936288 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Cantharidin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Cantharidin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Enzyme Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Molluscum Contagiosum (drug therapy)
• Pain (chemically induced)
• Parents (psychology)
• Patient Satisfaction
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome