Molluscum Contagiosum Treatment

Molluscum Contagiosum: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

A viral skin condition that triggers round, flesh-coloured painless bumps that may resemble warts. Molloscum contagiosum is a common disease among children, but it may also affect adults. Scratching and pricking at the bumps can cause the infection to spread. Normally, in most of the cases the condition resolves within a span of 12 months. There are a lot of home remedies that can heal its symptoms and offer relief. The condition is highly contagious and can easily get communicated from one to another.

Cause:

1. Common cutaneous infection caused by molloscum contagiosum virus, which is a pox virus. The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact or via fomites.

Clinical Presentation:

1. Typically seen in healthy kids, often in school-going children.
2. Can be sexually transmitted or associated with immunodeficiency [especially HIV].
3. Pearly, flesh-coloured to pink, umblicated papules that often appear translucent.
4. Central dell may or may not be evident.
5. Lesions often cluster and are common around sites of eczema.
6. Common in sites of rubbing or in moist areas - axillae, popliteal fossa, groin.
7. Lesion may become very red, which typically represents a host of immune responses thereafter.
8. Children can occasionally have large lesions or very high number of lesions.
9. Infection part of lesion is the central core.
10. Often see dermatitis surrounding the molloscum called ‘molloscum dermatitis’.
11. Lesion around eyes can be problematic and lead to chronic conjunctivitis.
12. Spontaneous clearing may occur but varies between weeks, months, and years.

Treatment:

1. Treatment is usually sought for cosmetic significance, pruritus, or epidemiologic concerns.
2. Oral and topical immunomodulators are prescribed to boost immunity for spontaneous clearance.
3. Electric and dual acid cautery are also treatment options suggested by our dermatologist. Both the procedures don't have any side effects and help in complete clearance of the infection. Curettage, electric cautery and cryotherapy are sometime used in adults. These treatments are not recommended for children, as they are very painful and traumatic.