Answer to last month's Clinical Quiz

Question:
This middle-aged gentleman complained of multiple non-itchy non-painful papular lesions on his lower abdomen.

Answer:
B. Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is an infectious disease caused by a poxvirus. It is characterised by skin-coloured, shiny, umbilicated papules which are not itchy or painful. Individual lesion may reach a diameter of 5-10mm as illustrated in this patient. Giant molluscum can occur in AIDS patients.

Treatment is by simple surgical procedures such as currettage, shaving or squeezing with blunt forceps. As it is sometimes impracticable to remove all lesions by surgical means, additional iodine application to wound is thought to be useful in inducing inflammation and promoting the spontaneous remission of untreated lesions.