Molluscum contagiosum is not always benign

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     EDITOR—I welcome the informative clinical review on common skin infections in children by Sladden and Johnston.1 However, when a Molluscum contagiosum arises in eyelid skin or even at the eyelid margin, it is far from benign. The lesion causes chronic keratoconjunctivitis, which can be easily misdiagnosed and mistreated if the causative lesion is not identified. Vascular infiltration and scarring of the peripheral cornea can occur.2 I expect to see one or two children a year who have had a miserable few months with a sore, photophobic and discharging eye before referral to the eye clinic. Under such circumstances, I am sure that prompt treatment of the eyelid lesion is indicated and a short course of topical steroid drops may be helpful.

    Richard M Redmond, consultant ophthalmologist

    Scarborough Hospital, Scarborough YO12 6QL richard.redmond@acute.sney.nhs.uk

    Competing interests: None declared.

    References

    Sladden MJ, Johnston GA. Common skin infections in children. BMJ 2004;329: 95-9. (10 July.)

    Kanski JJ. Clinical ophthalmology. 4th ed. Woburn, Md: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1999: 62-3.

    http://www.100md.com/html/DirDu/2007/01/23/35/58/68.htm