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Molluscum Contagiosum

Dongsheng Jiang, MS, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Molluscum contagiosum is a common, benign, viral (poxvirus) skin infection, characterized by small (2 to 5 mm), waxy white or flesh-colored, dome-shaped papules often with central um...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Contact with known infected person

  • Participation in contact sports

  • Sexual activity

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Perform thorough skin exam including conjunctiva and anogenital area.

  • Discrete, firm papule...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • In healthy patients, molluscum contagiosum is generally self-limited and resolves spontaneously; therefore, treatment is optional (1)[A].

  • No single intervention is shown to b...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Depends on type of treatment 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Cover lesions to prevent spread.

  • Avoid scratching to prevent autoinoculation.

  • Avoid sharing towels a...

REFERENCES

1
van der Wouden  JC, van der Sande  R, Kruithof  EJ, et al. Interventions for cutaneous molluscum contagiosum. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.  2017;(5):CD004767.  ...

ADDITIONAL READING

SEE ALSO

  • Clebak KT, Malone MA. Skin Infections. Prim Care. 2018;45(3):433-454.

  • Nowicka D, Bagłaj-Oleszczuk M, Maj J. Infectious d...

CODES

ICD10

  • B08.1 Molluscum contagiosum

SNOMED

  • 40070004 Molluscum contagiosum infection

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Observation is preferred treatment in healthy patients as lesions will spontaneously resolve.

  • Reassure parents that a child's lesions will heal naturally and generally resolve without s...

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