Molluscium contagiosum

Molluscium contagiosum is a virus infection affecting the skin. Molluscum contagiosum usually shows up as small spots, pearl-shaped and often pink. The condition is often found in children and moluscum contagiosum (contagiousum) is not a serious disease.

Molluscum contagiosum is an infection that is caused by the poxvirus, the condition is similar to warts. This virus infection can transmit as a result of direct contact, it may be sexual or not, or by an indirect contact, such as from a towel or a public swimming pool. Symptoms of molluscium contagiosum usually shows up within 2-8 weeks after the initial infection took place.

The condition is more frequent in young children since they have not yet developed full immunity to the different viri. It is also more commonly seen in patients with a lowered immune system such as in HIV positive people. The condition also seem to appear more frequently in the tropical areas since the viral growth benefits from a warm and humid environment.

Symptoms of moluscum contagiosum

• Spots on arms, legs and in the face. Often pink in color and pearl-shaped, 1-4 mm in diameter.
• When sexually transmitted, the molluscium may appear on genitals, on the lower stomach and on the inside of the thighs.

Molluscum contagiousum treatment 

The condition usually heals by itself so the normal molluscum contagiosum treatment is no treatment at all. In more severe cases, it is possible to use cryotherapy where the mollusci are frozen and scraped off, the whole surgery procedure done under local anaesthesia only. Sometimes it can be helpful to apply antiseptic solution to the area affected if a local infection starts to occur. This type of infection will ususally show itself as red circles, painful, located around the moluscum contagiosum spots.

Treatments of molluscum contagiosum include:

• Liquid nitrogen freezing
• The use of blistering solutions or acids
• Electrocautery (use of electric needles)
  
• Scraping, this is done with a scalpel or other sharp instrument
  
• Laser therapy
• Molluscium contagiousum creams 

Home treatment of molluscum can be done with application of different topical creams, gels, there are also topical anti-virus medicines and immune modifiers available. When using the laser therapy, freezing or scraping, there may be some discomfort and this is why these methods are often used with older children and with adults. In the case of many infection sites, it may be necessary to treat several times, repeated ever 3-5 weeks untill all molluscular growths have disappeared.

Moluscum contagiosum treatment (molluscium contagiousum) is usually offered children with lesions in uncomfortable places, the face etc or where there is general embarrasement.