%0 Journal Article
%T Efficacy and tolerance of the topical application of potassium hydroxide (10% and 15%) in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum: Randomized clinical trial: Research protocol
%A Josep R Marsal
%A Ines Cruz
%A Concepcio Teixido
%A Olga Diez
%A Mireia Martinez
%A Gisela Galindo
%A Jordi Real
%A Joan A Schoenenberger
%A Helena Pera
%J BMC Infectious Diseases
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2334-11-278
%X The study design is a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, using three types of topical treatment. The treatment consist of daily applications of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in aqueous solution at 10% and 15% concentration, and a placebo administered in the control group. Four follow-up visits (at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days) are planned to evaluate treatment effectiveness and patient tolerance.The main outcome measure of the trial will be the healing rate, defined as lesion disappearance in the affected zones after the topic application of the experimental treatment. Secondary measures will be the principal characteristics and evolution of the affected zone (surface area, number of lesions, size and density of lesions), treatment tolerance (hyperpigmentation, itching, burning, pain), recurrence rate and the natural evolution of lesions in the control group.KOH can potentially be an effective and safe treatment for MC in primary care, and can also reduce referrals to dermatologists and hospital pediatric departments. In addition, KOH may be a valid and less expensive alternative to current invasive treatments (surgical excision).ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01348386Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a viral infection of the skin [1] produced by a member of the Poxvirus family, the genus Molluscipoxvirus [2]. The symptoms are the appearance of pearly, usually umbilicated papulae. The lesions are completely asymptomatic and can affect any part of the body, usually affecting the thorax or lower extremities. They usually appear asymmetrically in previously injured zones (wounds or atopic dermatitis). Transmission requires direct contact with the infected host or contaminated fomites. MC frequently affects children using community swimming pools or siblings using the same washing sponges or towels [1-5]. The period of incubation usually oscillates between three and twelve weeks. Clinical diagnosis is based on the detection of the characteristic appearance of lesions. Differential diag
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/11/278