Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that causes either single or multiple raised, pearl-like bumps (papules) on the skin. It is a chronic infection, so lesions may persist from a few months to a few years. However, most cases resolve in six to nine months. It produces harmless, noncancerous growths in the skin’s top layers. The disease is spread by direct contact with the skin of an infected person or sharing towels with someone who has the disease. Outbreaks have occasionally been reported in child care centers.
Molluscum is a common skin problem with small, harmless raised spots. The spots can stay on the body for a few weeks, several months or more than a year. It is caused by the Molluscum Contagiosum Virus (MCV). This virus only lives in humans.
The lesions, known as Mollusca, are small, raised, and usually white, pink, or flesh-colored with a dimple or pit in the center. They often have a pearly appearance. They’re usually smooth and firm. In most people, the lesions range from about the size of a pinhead to as large as a pencil eraser (2 to 5 millimeters in diameter). They may become itchy, sore, red, and/or swollen.
Molluscum is contagious and can be spread from person to person or to different areas in the same person. It can also be spread by children sharing baths or pools through bath toys and towels. Usually it does not need any treatment. Good personal hygiene can help prevent it spreading.
Causes
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus that is a member of the poxvirus family. You can get the infection in different ways.
This is a common infection in children and occurs when a child comes into direct contact with a lesion or an object that has the virus on it. The infection is most often seen on the face, neck, armpit, arms, and hands. But it may occur anywhere on the body, except the palms and soles.
The virus can spread through contact with contaminated objects, such as towels, clothing, or toys.
The virus also spreads by sexual contact. Early lesions on the genitals may be mistaken for herpes or warts. But unlike herpes, these lesions are painless.
Persons with a weakened immune system (due to conditions such as HIV/AIDS) may have a rapidly spreading case of molluscum contagiosum.
Risk Factors
Molluscum contagiosum is common enough that you should not be surprised if you see someone with it or if someone in your family becomes infected. Although not limited to children, it is most common in children 1 to 10 years of age.
People at increased risk for getting the disease include –
- People with weakened immune systems (i.e., HIV-infected persons or persons being treated for cancer) are at higher risk for getting molluscum contagiosum. Their growths may look different, be larger, and be more difficult to treat.
- Atopic dermatitis may also be a risk factor for getting molluscum contagiosum due to frequent breaks in the skin. People with this condition also may be more likely to spread molluscum contagiousm to other parts of their body for the same reason.
- People who live in warm, humid climates where living conditions are crowded.
In addition, there is evidence that molluscum infections have been on the rise in the United States since 1966, but these infections are not routinely monitored because they are seldom serious and routinely disappear without treatment.
Symptoms
Bumps on the skin can be the only sign that a person has molluscum contagiosum. These bumps often appear about 7 weeks after being exposed to the virus that causes molluscum. Sometimes, the bumps do not appear for many months.
When the bumps appear on the skin, they often –
- Begin as small, firm, dome-shaped growths.
- Have a surface that feels smooth, waxy, or pearly.
- Are flesh-colored or pink.
- Have a dimple in the center. The dimple may be filled with a thick, white substance that is cheesy or waxy.
- Are painless, but some bumps itch.
- Turn red as the person’s immune system fights the virus.
- Appear on other areas of the body after a person scratches or picks the bumps. Scratching or picking can spread the virus.
In adults, the bumps often appear on the face, neck, armpits, arms, and hands. Other common places for bumps to appear are the genitals, abdomen, and inner thighs. Adults often get molluscum contagiosum through sexual contact.
If a person has a disease that weakens the immune system, such as AIDS, the bumps can grow very large. A person may have 100 or more bumps on the face alone.
Complications
Problems that can occur include any of the following –
- Persistence, spread, or recurrence of lesions
- Secondary bacterial skin infections
Treatment
Treatment for molluscum is usually recommended if lesions are in the genital area (on or near the penis, vulva, vagina, or anus). If lesions are found in this area it is a good idea to visit your healthcare provider as there is a possibility that you may have another disease spread by sexual contact.
Oral therapy – Gradual removal of lesions may be achieved by oral therapy. This technique is often desirable for pediatric patients because it is generally less painful and may be performed by parents at home in a less threatening environment.
Podophyllotoxin cream (0.5%) is reliable as a home therapy for men but is not recommended for pregnant women because of presumed toxicity to the fetus.
Therapy for immunocompromised persons – Most therapies are effective in immunocompetent patients; however, patients with HIV/AIDS or other immunosuppressing conditions often do not respond to traditional treatments. In addition, these treatments are largely ineffective in achieving long-term control in HIV patients.
Physical removal of lesions may include cryotherapy (freezing the lesion with liquid nitrogen), curettage (the piercing of the core and scraping of caseous or cheesy material), and laser therapy. These options are rapid and require a trained health care provider, may require local anesthesia, and can result in post-procedural pain, irritation, and scarring.
Laser therapy – Pulsed dye laser therapy is the treatment of choice when there are multiple lesions. Any surgical treatment requires to be repeated each time, new crops of lesions appear.
Cryotherapy – It involves killing infected cells by “freezing” them with a pressurized liquid spray, usually liquid nitrogen or nitrous oxide. The procedure is relatively painless and can be performed by any health professional. The infected cells may fall off immediately or fade over several days.
Alternative Treatment
Zell Oxygen is an incredible remedy to activate and strengthen the immune system and will speed a successful outcome over chronic (long term) and acute (short term) infections is most likely.
Collodial Silver has been found to attack all known harmful virus and bacteria.
Olive Leaf Extract is rapidly being recognised as a natural alternative to antibiotics. Extremely beneficial for people with viral and fungal infections and a non-toxic way to strengthen the immune system. Scientific research has shown that the active ingredient in olive leaf extract, oleuropein, has powerful healing properties and can fight bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that cause infection and disease.
Vitamin Oils – Specific combinations of different vitamin oils to get rid of the papules caused by Molluscum Contagiosum.
Garlic – Molluscum is viral and caused by a pox virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Eating raw garlic might help the body’s immune system fight off the underlying virus, helping the eruptions to disappear more rapidly than ordinarily. Garlic has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties in its active ingredient allicin, which work to destroy viruses both internally and on the skin.
Turmeric, with its potent active ingredient curcumin, has properties that are reported to be anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory, making it an excellent natural remedy to boost the immune system, and one that might have potent effects on the mollusucm virus, hastening its demise in the body. Because turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory properties, it can not only be taken orally but the powered turmeric applied to the skin as a poltice
Reference –
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/molluscum-contagiosum
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/dermatology/molluscum_contagiosum_85,P00299/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/molluscum-contagiosum/basics/definition/con-20026391
http://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/molluscum-contagiosum/risk.html
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/molluscum-contagiosum
http://www.dermnetnz.org/viral/molluscum-contagiosum.html
http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/molluscum-contagiosum.html
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/molluscum_contagiosum/article_em.htm