Molluscum contagiosum overview
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Molluscum contagiosum Microchapters |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a viral infection of the skin or occasionally of the mucous membranes. MC has no animal reservoir, infecting only humans, as did smallpox. However, there are different pox viruses that infect many other mammals. The infecting human MC virus is a DNA poxvirus called the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV).
Pathophysiology
This is a common infection in children and occurs when a child comes into direct contact with a lesion. The virus can spread through contact with contaminated objects, such as towels, clothing, or toys. The virus also spreads by sexual contact. Persons with a weakened immune system (due to conditions such as AIDS) may have a rapidly worse case of molluscum contagiosum.
Causes
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus that is a member of the poxvirus family. You can get the infection in a number of different ways. This is a common infection in children and occurs when a child comes into direct contact with a lesion. It is frequently seen on the face, neck, armpit, arms, and hands but may occur anywhere on the body except the palms and soles. Early lesions on the genitalia may be mistaken for herpes or warts but, unlike herpes, these lesions are painless.
Epidemiology and Demographics
The incidence of MC infections in young children is around 17% and peaks between 2-12 years of age.
Diagnosis
Laboratory Findings
Diagnosis is based on the appearance of the lesion and can be confirmed by a skin biopsy. The health care provider should examine the lesion to rule out other disorders and to determine other underlying disorders.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Treatment is often unnecessary[1][2]. Individual molluscum lesions may go away on their own and are reported as lasting generally from 6 to 8 weeks,[3] to 2 or 3 months.[4] However via autoinoculation, the disease may propagate and so an outbreak generally lasts longer with mean durations variously reported as 8 months,[3] to about 18 months,[5][6] and with a range of durations from 6 months to 5 years.[4][6] depending on the location and number of lesions, with no single approach shown to be convincingly effective.
Surgery
Surgical treatments include cryosurgery, in which liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and destroy lesions, as well as scraping them off with a curette.
References
- ↑ Prodigy knowledgebase (2003). "Molluscum Contagiosum". National Health Service. Retrieved 2006-07-06. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - UK NHS guidelines on Molluscum Contagiosum - ↑ van der Wouden JC, Menke J, Gajadin S; et al. (2006). "Interventions for cutaneous molluscum contagiosum". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD004767. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004767.pub2. PMID 16625612.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Weller R, O'Callaghan CJ, MacSween RM, White MI (1999). "Scarring in Molluscum contagiosum: comparison of physical expression and phenol ablation". BMJ. 319 (7224): 1540. PMID 10591712.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 derm/270 at eMedicine
- ↑ MedlinePlus Encyclopedia 000826
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tyring SK (2003). "Molluscum contagiosum: the importance of early diagnosis and treatment". Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 189 (3 Suppl): S12–6. PMID 14532898.