MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM

[Guest guest]

Here is some info on the virus mentioned earlier. I have two children who

currently carry it. We were told by the Dr that the treatment here is to get

rid of the 'seed' before it bursts spreading the virus. The best description I

can give is pimple-like. It just doesn't have the swelling or redness. It has

taken about 3-5 weeks for the old bumps to mature enough to get the seeds out

and then about a week later a new one will pop up. Hope this helps someone.

 

 

 

MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM - a patient's guide

Dr Logan Mclennan - Family Doctor

 

What is Molluscum Contagiosum?

 

This spotty lesion is caused by a wart-like virus called the molluscipoxvirus

and is mostly harmless to children. This is a different virus to those which

cause ordinary warts. It has an incubation period of 2 to 8 weeks and will

usually disappear over 9 to 12 months by itself without any scarring so can be

left alone quite safely.

 

Usually it occurs as multiple lesions. Sometimes they grow more easily on skin

affected by eczema and can last longer on eczematous skin. Eczema treatment can

be continued in the presence of molluscums.

 

Transmission to other parts of the same child's skin or to another person, is by

direct close contact. This makes the lesions more common where skin touches skin

such as in the armpit. They have an easily recognised appearance being round

with a central dimple. Underneath the dimple is a white cheesy substance which

contains the virus.

 

Unlike warts, molluscums do not occur on the palms or soles.

 

Molluscum contagiosa can also occur in adults as a sexually transmitted disease.

In some immune deficient states such as AIDS, molluscums can grow very large.

 

Treatment:

 

In children it is quite acceptable to avoid any specific treatment and wait for

spontaneous remission. However there is a small risk of a molluscum becoming

secondarily infected with bacteria. This will be obvious because the lesion will

become red and sore.

 

The goal of treatment is to remove or ablate the central core of the lesion.

 

The simplest treatment is sellotape stripping. This usually only works with

larger riper lesions. A strip of clear sticky tape is applied at bedtime and

stripped off the following day hopefully removing the core. The core of the

lesions contains the infective bit so dispose of the used sellotape very

carefully and do not touch the sticky side.

 

Phenol (an acid like chemical) applied with a sharp toothpick to the central

dimple is another treatment. This is put on each molluscum each night. Sometimes

infection can occur.

 

Other wart-treatment chemicals can be applied by your doctor e.g.

trichloroacetic acid or cautery can be used with an electric needle or

cryo-cautery with liquid nitrogen but these treatments can cause pain and

scarring.

 

Immuno-stimulation can be used with the drugs cimetidine or lamprene. It is

better to avoid drugs in children unless there are huge numbers of molluscums.

 

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