Efficacy of emlap cream in children having molluscum contagiosum

RR Mittal, Anju Jha

 Department of Dermato-Venereology, Govt. Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala-147001, India

Correspondence Address:
R R Mittal
Department of Dermato-Venereology, Govt. Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala-147001
India

To the Editor

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is seen as umbilicated, 3-5 mm, pearly white to skin -coloured, shiny papules caused by pox virus MCV-1 and MCV -2 and are not uncommon in children.[1] Usually MC lesions are treated with curettage followed by chemical cautery or cryotherapy. Chemical cautery is more suitable for children than cryotherapy but some sedation is needed in children even for cautery as they are apprehensive and more so if MC lesions are multiple. EMLAP cream containing lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5% was recommended as an effective topical analgesic instead of systemic sedation in children.[2]

The present study was undertaken to evaluate topical EM LAP cream in 30 children in age group of 2-10 years suffering from multiple MC lesions. EMLAP cream was applied over group of MC lesions in localized area and covered with occlusive dressing provided with the cream for one hour. On discrete and distant lesions EMLAP cream alone, i.e without occlusion was applied. After one hour, the cream was removed and area cleaned with betadine lotion.

Curettage of all MC lesions were done with injection needle followed by cautery with 10% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Apprehension of children disappeared as procedure was painless and curettage plus cautery could be done with ease. None of the patients suffered from sensitization or other adverse effect after EMLAP application.

Topical EMLAP cream gave reasonably good analgesia and no adverse effects. Thus it is a good and safe topical local anaesthetic for cautery especially in grouped MC lesions in children.

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2.	Rosdahl I, Edmar B, Gisslen H, et al. Curettage of molluscum contagiosum in children:analgesia by topical application of a lidocaine/ prilocaine cream (EMLA). Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 1988;68:149:153. [Google Scholar]