Welcome to Dermbits! Watch short videos of KOLs answering your questions

thumbnail_dermbits-colorful.png

dermbits-colorful.png

Dermbits

MD, FAAD, FAAP

How do you navigate concerns from parents of pediatric patients with molluscum contagiosum?

Warts And Molluscum

You oftentimes to navigate that office visit, I first have to see what has occurred up to that point. Oftentimes they were told that no treatment was either available or that no treatment was necessary. And so they're a little disbelief that they were advised not to treat or that nothing was available. And they're surprised to learn when they come to see the specialist and a dermatologist, that we actually have a relatively well tolerated, safe, painless medication for their child. So without shame or blame, oftentimes it's just to educate that in fact, we do have available therapies that are safe and well tolerated in children. And we don't need to go to the physical, destructive modalities that are oftentimes painful and not tolerated in children. And then we kind of reset the playing field, if you will. That's when I usually speak on the medication cantheridin and its utility in the format of treatment for molascom, and then I address the concerns. Oftentimes if they're numerous or too numerous to count lesions, my first treatment in the office may be directed to lesions, and I target to lesions that are concerning to the family. If it's on visible areas such as the face, or unsightly areas such as the groin, I may consider treating those areas that brought them into the office first and then bring them back in three weeks and work on the torso or the limbs, less visible areas that we have a little bit more time in managing other things to navigate. Oftentimes parents don't know to ask or have concerns about. I'll often explore if there's other siblings in the home and if they share baths together. Oftentimes I see that's a mode of transmission in addition to fomites, but how they're spreading it and if they've struggled with one child, I make it very clear that we don't want the same to occur in their other children. And if another child has even one or two moluscum lesions, I will take care of that visit right away, so that again, that child, the second child doesn't auto inoculate. Or again, we get into this pattern of this wait and see, and then they come back when it's absolutely flourished and a bit more challenging to manage.

How do you navigate concerns from parents of pediatric patients with molluscum contagiosum?

Related CME