SynthesisPaediatric drugs2026
Molluscum Contagiosum Treatments in Children: A Systematic Review with Network Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Paediatric drugs, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/
objectivesMolluscum contagiosum affects up to 11.5% of children, yet optimal treatment remains uncertain. Previous systematic reviews included mixed adult/pediatric populations, limiting applicability to children. We performed the first pediatric-specific network meta-analysis comparing molluscum contagiosum treatment efficacy and safety.
methodsWe searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science through December 2025 for controlled trials evaluating molluscum contagiosum treatments in children. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and ROBINS-I tools. We performed frequentist network meta-analysis with random-effects modeling, calculating risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Treatments were ranked using Surface Under Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) scores. This systematic review and network meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (registration number CRD420251040622).
resultsEighteen controlled trials involving 2377 pediatric participants evaluating 15 treatments were included. The network demonstrated consistency (inconsistency p = 0.77). Among treatments evaluated in multiple studies, salicylic acid + lactic acid 16.7% (RR 3.16, 95% CI 1.81-5.52, SUCRA 86.0%), cantharidin 0.7% (RR 3.25, 95% CI 1.39-7.58, SUCRA 81.2%), and potassium hydroxide 10% (RR 3.05, 95% CI 1.77-5.24, SUCRA 78.6%) demonstrated superior efficacy versus placebo. Single-study treatments including Backhousia citriodora oil and Candida albicans antigen achieved highest rankings but require validation. Potassium hydroxide demonstrated concentration-dependent efficacy and adverse events.
conclusionsSalicylic acid + lactic acid 16.7%, cantharidin 0.7%, and potassium hydroxide 10% demonstrate superior efficacy for pediatric molluscum contagiosum with robust multi-study evidence. Treatment selection should balance efficacy, safety, and patient factors. Top-ranked single-study treatments require validation before clinical recommendations.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.