Can molluscum contagiosum be transmitted to others?

Molluscum contagiosum is contagious, which is why it is called molluscum contagiosum. Can molluscum contagiosum be contagious to others? The answer is obvious. Molluscum contagiosum is mainly transmitted through direct contact. You may also be infected with molluscum contagiosum if you are in a public bathroom or swimming. We must have a full understanding of the characteristics of this disease and take preventive measures to avoid being infected and becoming a victim.

It is caused by infection with molluscum contagiosum virus, which is a DNA virus in the poxviridae family. It is mainly transmitted through direct contact. Patients are often infected in public bathrooms or swimming pools. It can also be self-inoculated or transmitted through sexual contact.

Clinical manifestations

It is common in children and young people, with an incubation period of 14 days to 6 months. The skin lesions initially appear as white, hemispherical papules, which gradually increase in size to 5 to 10 mm, with a slightly concave center like an umbilicus and a waxy luster. After the top is pricked, a white, cheese-like substance can be squeezed out, which is called molluscum body. The number of lesions is variable, and they may be scattered or clustered, and generally do not fuse with each other. They can occur anywhere on the body but are most common on the neck, trunk, lower abdomen, and genitalia. In most cases, the skin lesions will disappear on their own after 6 to 9 months, generally leaving no scars.

examine

Histopathological examination of the skin lesions showed that characteristic inclusion bodies, namely molluscum bodies, were visible in the cytoplasm of epidermal keratinocytes.

diagnosis

Based on the typical characteristics of skin lesions (depression at the top like the umbilicus, waxy luster, and the ability to squeeze out cheese-like substances), the diagnosis is generally not difficult. If necessary, the diagnosis can be confirmed by finding characteristic molluscum bodies through histopathological examination of the skin lesions. Single, larger skin lesions sometimes need to be differentiated from basal cell epithelioma, keratoacanthoma, purulent granuloma, etc.

treat

The first choice of treatment is scraping, with the goal of completely squeezing out the molluscum bodies in the lesions, followed by application of 2% iodine tincture, which can effectively remove the lesions. Other treatments such as cryotherapy, topical 3% phthalamide ointment or cidofovir ointment are also effective.

prevention

Avoid swimming in public swimming pools, using public bathing facilities, sharing towels with others, etc. to avoid infection. At the same time, try to avoid scratching to prevent self-infection.