What is molluscum contagiosum?
Molluscum
contagiosum is a virus that causes a skin infection of small lesions
or bumps. It is generally a benign infection and symptoms can clear
up without receiving treatment.
Is it common?
Over 100,000
cases of the virus are diagnosed every year.
How is it transmitted?
It is
often transmitted through vaginal, oral, or anal sex, but can also
be transmitted through non-sexual, intimate contact. Inanimate objects
such as swim suits, undergarments, or towels that are shared or
that come into contact with the lesions can transmit the virus.
If a person has the virus, they can also spread the infection to
other parts of their own body by touching a lesion and then touching
another part of their body.
What are the symptoms?
Mollusca
are firm, dome shaped bumps that may have a little dimple in the
center. They can be white, translucent, pink, yellow or flesh-colored.
They range in size from very tiny (head of a pin) to large (size
of a nickel). They can also become red and swollen. They are usually
found around the lower abdomen, genitals, inner thighs, buttocks,
or groin but may also be found on external genitalia and around
the anus. The lesions can last from 2 weeks to 4 years, with the
average time being 2 years.
How soon
after exposure to molluscum contagiosum will symptoms appear?
Symptoms usually appear between 2 to 12 weeks after exposure --
but it can take years for symptoms to show up.
How is it diagnosed?
Your medical
provider will visually examine any lesions and may also examine
tissue or fluid taken from them under a microscope to confirm whether
you have the infection.
How is it treated?
Prior
to treatment, it is important to avoid touching the lesion and then
touching another part of your body without washing your hands to
prevent the chance of spreading the infection. To have the lesions
treated, there are a variety of options: the growths may be removed
with chemicals, through a scraping procedure called curettage, or
through cryotherapy (freezing). Repeated treatments may be necessary.
Lesions may also self-resolve in time, but going through treatment
minimizes the risk of transmission to another person.
Can a molluscum contagiosum infection be
dangerous?
Fortunately,
besides the discomfort of having the infection, there are no serious
health complications or risks. But it is important to get the infection
treated because of the risk of transmitting it to others.
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