Medical News

Molluscum, or Molluscum Contagiosum, is a disease that affects a great number of people in the United States and other parts of the world. Molluscum is a contagious viral disease of the skin that may be mistaken for warts. Warts are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV), while Molluscum Contagiosum is caused by a pox virus. It consists of small, harmless growths caused by a virus from the poxvirus family. These growths look like pink pimples with a waxy look, and are common among children. The growths are frequently seen on the neck, face, arm pit, hands, and arms. Similar to warts, Molluscum virus enters the skin through pores or small breaks of hair follicles. Although contagious, it is not a serious disease and usually clears up in a few months. However, it can last for up to two years.

There are four types of Molluscum virus: MCV-1 to -4. Among the four types, the MCV-1 is the most prevalent and MCV-2 appears usually in adults. The incidence of Molluscum Contagiosum infections in young children, between 2-12 years of age, is approximately 17%. Most of these incidents have been reported from hot and humid tropical countries. Kids who are between the ages of 2 to 12 are more prone to the disease. When a child has Molluscum Contagiosum, small bumps appear on the legs, body, arms and even the eyelids. These bumps are shaped like dome and look like pearls.

Though this disease mostly affects children, experts believe that adults who have a weak immune system are also more prone to the Molluscum virus. Experts believe that this disease is also related to the immune system. In adults, Molluscum infections are often contagious and usually affect the lower abdomen, genitals, inner thighs, and buttocks. Molluscum infections may also appear on the mouth and lips.

In case of adults, transmission can also be made through sexual contact with an infected individual. Molluscum Contagiosum is among the widest spread sexually transmitted diseases. Although the Molluscum virus can be acquired through direct sexual intercourse, anyone living with an affected person is still prone to acquiring the virus. The disease can be acquired by sharing common such as swimming pool, school, or health club, school. It can also be acquired through sharing like sharing toys and using the same towel.

Treatment for Molluscum Contagiosum varies. Unless the person has been scratching at the lesions, no inflammations or redness appears. In the mature Molluscum, small waxy core can be squeezed out of the lesion by pricking the top of the nodule with a sterile needle. Health care professionals treat Molluscum Contagiosum through freezing off or cleaning out the bumps. Bumps can also be removed through lasers or treated with creams. These bumps normally hear on their own in a few months to a year or two if left untreated.

The good news is that once the pearl shaped bumps are gone, Molluscum is not contagious, although the Molluscum virus is not completely eliminated from the body.