Which treatment is not suitable for molluscum contagiosum?

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection causing benign, dome-shaped papules. The treatment options often focus on removing the lesions and relieving symptoms, given that the infection generally resolves spontaneously in immunocompetent individuals.

Curettage is effective because it involves scraping off the molluscum lesions, thus physically removing the virus from the skin. Cryotherapy effectively destroys the lesions by freezing them, promoting the body’s immune response to eliminate the infection. Trichloroacetic acid is a chemical agent that can be used to treat molluscum contagiosum by causing localized necrosis of the lesions.

In contrast, 5-fluorouracil is a chemotherapeutic agent primarily used in the treatment of certain cancers and precancerous conditions, and it is not indicated for viral infections like molluscum contagiosum. Its mechanism primarily involves inhibiting DNA synthesis, which is unnecessary for treating a condition like molluscum, where the goal is to remove or destroy the lesions rather than disrupt cellular replication for cancer treatment.

Therefore, the use of 5-fluorouracil for molluscum contagiosum is not suitable. The other treatments mentioned effectively target the virus or the lesions, making