title: Treatment of molluscum contagiosum with a pulsed dye laser: Pilot study with 19 children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Molluscum contagiosum is a common, self-limiting viral disease of childhood caused by a poxvirus. Often the children themselves and their parents desire treatment for cosmetic reasons or because of pruritus. Laser therapy offers another option to the traditional methods of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  19 children aged between 2 and 13 years (median:6) with molluscum contagiosum were treated in a prospective, non-randomized pilot study with the flashlamp pumped pulsed dye laser (wave length:585 nm, pulse duration 0,45 ms, spot size 7 mm, energy density 6-7 J/cm(2)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients tolerated the laser treatment well. In 84.3% one laser treatment led to total remission. In 10.5% a further laser session was necessary and one patient was treated three times to achieve total remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of molluscum contagiosum with the flashlamp pulsed dye laser is a safe and efficient treatment modality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University, Graz, Austria. barbara.binder@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weger
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Komericki
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kopera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008012:Lidocaine; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011318:Prilocaine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019233:Retreatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D008012:Lidocaine