Management of warts and molluscum in adolescents.
Warts continue to be a therapeutic challenge, especially when they are numerous or widespread; in contrast, treatment of molluscum is comparatively more successful. A single, most effective treatment for either infection has not been defined. Conventional methods attempt to non-specifically destroy infected tissue. Most of these procedures are painful and require multiple treatments or compliance with daily application of a medication. The efficacy of destructive techniques has not been verified in placebo-controlled clinical trials and success rates reported in uncontrolled studies are difficult to interpret and often no better than that those achieved with a placebo. Alternative pharmacological approaches are aimed at stimulating immunologic or antiviral responses. Further study is needed to establish efficacy of these treatments.
Allen
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Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University Medical Center, Missouri 63104, USA.
Siegfried
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D000293:Adolescent; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000628:therapy*; D014860:Warts / Q000628:therapy*