title: Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum with Imiquimod in the United States: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Since there are concerns that imiquimod is being overprescribed for children with molluscum despite its limited efficacy, we used data from two nationally representative surveys to determine the rate at which imiquimod was being prescribed for molluscum contagiosum in the United States. From 1999-2010, there were an estimated 6.4 million visits for molluscum (95% CI: 5.5, 7.3 million), and imiquimod was prescribed at 7.0% of these visits (95% CI: 3.4, 11). Given the low frequency of patients being treated with imiquimod for molluscum, the concerns of its overuse may be unfounded.
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Farhangian
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fleischer
mesh_terms: D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000077271:Imiquimod