[Management of viral dermatologic lesions primary care].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the characteristics of various viral tumoural lesions and their treatment by family doctors.

DESIGN

Descriptive, retrospective study.

SETTING

Urban health centre.

PATIENTS: 225 patients registered at the centre.

INTERVENTIONS: The following variables were collected over two years: sex, age, type of lesion, anatomical location and treatments used.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

51% of the sample were men, and 49% women. Almost half were between 15 and 34. The most common pathologies were common verrucas (72%), plantar warts (19%) and Molluscum contagiosum (8%). All the plantar warts were located on the lower limbs; condylomas and bowenoid papulosis on the genitals; 35% of the common verrucas on the head and neck (the rest on upper limbs); and 26% of the Molluscum contagiosum on the head and neck too (37% on the thorax and/or abdomen). All the genital lesions were treated medically. Cryotherapy was the most common treatment, used for all plantar warts, 53% of verrucas and 21% of the Molluscum contagiosum. Curettage was used on 80% of the Molluscum and 30% of the verrucas. 11% of the verrucas were sliced off.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no conclusive data in the literature about the choice of technique for treating these lesions. We recommend cryotherapy for multiple lesions and in areas where surgery could have functional repercussions. Curettage seems effective for Molluscum contagiosum and where there is resistance to medical treatment.