The Possible Effect of Homeopathy on Paediatric Molluscum Contagiosum Patients: A Literature Review

Background: Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a self-limiting, benign, highly contagious, and increasingly prevalent pediatric skin infection with no agreed-upon conventional treatment protocol. The current lack of clear and effective treatment options for MC warrants investigation of homeopathy as a potential treatment for MC, as it has historically been used to treat lesions with molluscum-like characteristics. This study aims to explore the literature on homeopathy, a holistic intervention, as a possible effective treatment for MC, and also aims to investigate changes in non-MC-related concomitant symptoms during treatment. Methods: The databases CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, and hand-searched peer-reviewed articles for clinically diagnosed MC cases were studied. Extracted data from randomised controlled trials, case series, and case reports of children (2–17 years) were assessed: timeline (onset of lesions, time of intervention, and time of lesion resolution), number and location of lesions, geographical location of patient, and any change in non-MC-related concomitant symptoms. Results: In total, 12 articles (published between 1997 and 2023, and including 178 participants) were found. Lesion resolution time with homeopathy was markedly less compared with no treatment. Remarkably, an association was observed between lesion locations and the geographical location of the children, with the location of lesions being predominantly facial in India and non-facial in Australia. Of 15 unrelated concomitant conditions, improvement was reported in symptoms of the digestive, nervous, urinary, and endocrine systems. Current use of the supplement for homeopathy in the CARE clinical case reporting guideline (HOM-CASE) has improved the accuracy of reporting the MC onset. Conclusion: Based on the literature review reporting improvement in resolution of skin lesions along with that of unrelated concomitant symptoms after treatment, homeopathy appears to be a potential therapeutic approach for MC. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm the above findings and define the potential role of homeopathy in the treatment of MC in pediatric patients.