NOTE: This program has expired for CME credit.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Viral skin diseases represent a major component in the busy practices of dermatologists. In this activity, the focus is on the most common cutaneous viral diseases, genital/anal warts (condylomata acuminatum) and common warts, caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV), and molluscum contagiosum, caused by poxviruses.
The manifestations of cutaneous viral infections range from simple erythematous, macular presentations to papules, vesicles, pustules, ulcers, and crusting that may represent any of a long list of possible etiologies. Clinicians must be able to accurately assess and differentiate among these manifestations and presentations, particularly now because of the emerging possibility that the causative organisms may be the etiologic agents responsible for smallpox infections or disseminated vaccinia. The poxviruses, especially, may mimic or be mimicked by vaccinia, and clinicians should know the differences in the morphology of the lesions as well as in the presentation, timing, and progression of these lesions.
Advances in the understanding of the natural history and treatment of common viral skin diseases highlight the need for a continuing educational process that guides the clinician in patient management, including the latest treatment options, such as topical immune response modifier therapy.
This activity will provide dermatologists with current information regarding the nature of viral skin diseases caused by HPV and poxviruses and will help clinicians remain up-to-date on patient applied and physician applied therapies in the treatment of genital warts, common warts, and molluscum contagiosum.
Intended Audience
This activity has been developed for dermatologists, primary care physicians, and other clinicians who are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of viral skin diseases.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After reading this supplement and taking the test, participants should be able to:
- Summarize the current understanding of the pathogenesis of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections of the skin—as manifested by genital/anal and common warts—and the role of local immune responses in the clearing of infection.
- Discuss the HPV types that are associated with external genital/anal warts and with cervical malignancies, and explain the role of diagnostic testing in the management of patients with external genital/anal warts.
- Recognize the most common presentations of human papillomavirus (HPV) and poxvirus infections, as well as the atypical morphologic characteristics that must be considered in diagnosing various types of warts and molluscum contagiosum.
- Describe the methods that may be used to confirm a clinical diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum, and explain when such methods should be used.
- List and explain the destructive/ablative methodologies and the pharmacologic treatments that are currently available for treating genital/anal and common warts and molluscum contagiosum.
- Name and describe the factors that should be considered in choosing a specific therapeutic regimen for individual patients.
FACULTY DISCLOSURES
The disclosure of anyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity. All relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests and/or manufacturers must be disclosed to participants at the beginning of each activity. The faculty of this educational activity discloses the following.
Dr Kress is a consultant to 3M Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., and PharmaDerm; on the speaker’s bureau of Amgen, Novartis, Stiefel, and Galderma Laboratories, L.P.; and a stock shareholder of Abbott Laboratories. Dr Skinner is a consultant to 3M and is on the speaker’s bureau of 3M, Connetics Corporation, Novartis, Amgen, and Stiefel. He discusses off-label treatment of warts. Dr Tyring has received grant/research support from, is a consultant to, and on the speaker’s bureau of 3M, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Merck & Co., Inc., Abbott, and Amgen.
This activity is supported by an educational
grant from 
Hardware and Software Specifications Needed to View
This course requires use of a modern web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Netscape, or Opera. Additionally, to view the presentations requires Flash reader version 6 or later (free download here) and Acrobat Reader Version 5 or later (free download here).