Efficacy and safety of trichloroacetic acid 35% versus adapalene 0.1% in treatment of molluscum contagiosum in children

Objective to compare the efficacy and safety of topical trichloroacetic acid (tca) 35% versus topical adapalene 0.1% in molluscum contagiosum (mc) in children. methods sixty children with mcs were divided in two equal groups. thirty patients in group a received treatment with topical 35% tca weekly and 30 patients in group b received treatment with topical 0.1% adapalene once daily. the patients were followed till 6 weeks for efficacy and safety. results the efficacy of tca and adapalene was observed in 25 (83.3%) and 20 (66.7%) patients,respectively (p > 0.136). the safety of tca and adapalene was seen among 21 (70%) and 29 (96.7%) patients,respectively (p < 0.05). conclusion the efficacy of tca was not significantly higher than adapalene. however,adapalene is more safe than tca.