My son was exposed to another child who has molluscum. What is this
and is it contagious?
Molluscum
contagiosum, commonly referred to as molluscum, is a common and benign viral
infection that affects the skin. Rare
among infants less than 1 year old, this condition is common among pre-school
and school age children. Molluscum is
sometimes confused with common skin warts, cysts, milia, or chicken pox.
What
does molluscum look like?
Molluscum
lesions typically have the appearance of a small dome shaped bump on the skin
that is pearly or flesh colored and with a small crater in the center.
How
does molluscum spread?
Molluscum
lesions are commonly spread via skin to skin contact. It can be also be contracted from coming in
contact with mats, gym equipment, towels, wash cloths, etc. which have been
used previously by a child with molluscum.
·
After exposure, infection may show up as one or
a few bumps on the skin anywhere from several days or weeks later.
o
Not all children who come in physical contact
with a child who has molluscum will develop the lesions.
·
Lesions can spread over most areas of the body, but
are not found in the mouth or on the palms of the hands.
·
Molluscum lesions can be itchy at times which
can cause them to spread more quickly to other areas of the body.
o
It is important to discourage scratching of the
lesions and if necessary, topical anti-itch or oral anti-itch medications are
available. Talk
with your pediatrician prior to starting any new medication.
·
Children with eczema
have been found to be more prone to molluscum infections, likely because of the
dry and broken skin that accompanies eczema.
o
A small subset of children who acquire molluscum
will also have eczema-like skin around the lesions which will clear up when the
molluscum resolves.
Is
there a treatment for molluscum?
While
occasionally itchy or located in unsightly locations, an infection with
molluscum does not cause serious medical problems. In the vast majority of
cases, the best treatment is to do nothing at all.
Molluscum
lesions will heal on their own, however, it can take several months or up to a
few years to completely resolve.
·
Commonly, the lesions which appeared first will
heal after a few months. However, new
lesions can erupt as a result of scratching or rubbing existing lesions causing
them to spread to new areas.
o
Eventually, the body’s immune system will
recognize and eliminate the infection, but it is a very slow process and
parents should be aware that it may take several months for complete
resolution.
§
In some children (up to 30% in some studies),
molluscum lesions can recur after they have previously completely resolved.
For children
whose lesions are extensive, in unsightly locations, or very bothersome, there
are a few treatment options available.
·
One of the first-line therapies for molluscum is
cryotherapy. This method uses a freezing agent to shrink the lesion, causing it
to die off and disappear.
o
Another common treatment is curettage. This
involves opening the top of the lesion with a needle or scalpel. Curettage can be
very successful in resolving the lesions over a short period of time, but can
be painful and time consuming, making it difficult to accomplish in young
children.
o
Other topical medications (such as cantharidin, salicylic
acid, or imiquimod) or laser treatments exist, but are often very expensive or
prone to side effects which can be much worse than the molluscum lesions.
Does
my child need to stay home from school?
Children with
molluscum do not need to miss school. They should avoid physical contact with
other children if possible to prevent spreading the infection to others.
Additionally, lesions can be discretely covered with clothing or in some cases
a band-aid if they are bigger or inflamed from chronic scratching.
·
Molluscum
lesions do not cause fever and should not be a reason why a child has fever, cough,
vomiting, diarrhea, or other common cold symptoms.
For more information on molluscum
contagiosum, its treatment, or other pediatric skin conditions, please consult
with your pediatrician. Always consult with a physician prior to starting any new
medication, even if it is over-the-counter.
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