Management of warts and molluscum in adolescents

Warts continue to be a therapeutic challenge, especially when they are numerous or widespread; in contrast, treatment of molluscum is comparatively more successful. A single, most effective treatment for either infection has not been defined. Conventional methods attempt to non-specifically destroy infected tissue. Most of these procedures are painful and require multiple treatments or compliance with daily application of a medication. The efficacy of destructive techniques has not been verified in placebo-controlled clinical trials and success rates reported in uncontrolled studies are difficult to interpret and often no better than that those achieved with a placebo. Alternative pharmacological approaches are aimed at stimulating immunologic or antiviral responses. Further study is needed to establish efficacy of these treatments.