From the Guidelines
Molluscum contagiosum is a common, benign viral skin infection presenting as skin-colored papules with a central umbilication. This condition affects 5% to 11% of children 0 to 16 years of age and most commonly affects the trunk, face, and extremities 1. The infection is mostly asymptomatic but may present with pain, itching, redness, or occasionally bacterial superinfection. Key characteristics of molluscum contagiosum include:
- Skin-colored papules with a central umbilication
- Asymptomatic or presenting with pain, itching, or redness
- Affects the trunk, face, and extremities
- Common in children, with a prevalence of 5% to 11% in those 0 to 16 years of age 1. Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching contaminated objects, and while it often resolves on its own, various treatments are available to manage the condition.
From the Research
Definition of Molluscum Contagiosum
- Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral disease of childhood caused by a poxvirus, which presents with small, firm, dome-shaped, umbilicated papules 2.
- It is generally benign and self-limited, with spontaneous resolution within 6 months to several years 2.
- The infection usually resolves within months in people without immune deficiency, but treatment may be preferred for social and cosmetic reasons or to avoid spreading the infection 3.
Characteristics of Molluscum Contagiosum
- The typical clinical picture of this infection is characterized by asymptomatic flesh-colored, single or multiple papules, measuring 2-6 mm in diameter with a central umbilication that occur on the skin and the mucous membranes 4.
- In adults, the skin lesions are predominantly located in the genital region, whereas in children they are found on the trunk, the extremities, and the face 4.
- Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin infection that is caused by a pox virus and occurs mainly in children 3.
Treatment Options
- Treatment options include destructive therapies (curettage, cryotherapy, cantharidin, and keratolytics, among others), immunomodulators (imiquimod, cimetidine, and Candida antigen), and antivirals (cidofovir) 2.
- Topical imiquimod is an effective and safe drug for molluscum contagiosum in children, with 73.91% of patients showing complete remission within 3 to 8 weeks of treatment 4.
- Combination topical treatment of molluscum contagiosum with cantharidin and imiquimod 5% in children has been shown to be effective and well tolerated, with >90% of lesions clearing in 12 patients 5.