Which of the following is a standard treatment option for molluscum contagiosum?

Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is a recognized standard treatment option for molluscum contagiosum, which is a viral skin infection characterized by small, raised, painless bumps. This method works by freezing the lesions, causing them to blister and eventually fall off as the skin heals. Cryotherapy is effective because it directly targets the infected tissue, stimulating a local immune response and promoting the removal of the virus from the skin.

In contrast, antibiotics or antibiotic treatments such as erythromycin and azithromycin are not appropriate for molluscum contagiosum, as it is caused by a virus rather than bacteria. Therefore, using these medications would not address the underlying viral infection effectively. Similarly, while trichloroacetic acid is a topical chemotherapy agent for certain skin lesions, it is not considered a first-line treatment for molluscum contagiosum. Overall, cryotherapy is favored due to its efficacy and ability to directly treat the viral lesions.