Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a relatively common viral infection of the skin. It usually infects children, but can infect adults as well. When it infects adults around the genital areas, it is considered to be a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Many people infected with molluscum contagiosum will not have any symptoms. Those who do can experience an outbreak of round bumps.

Molluscum contagiosum is caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV). The virus is a member of the poxvirus family. MCV can be spread by skin to skin contact, by inanimate objects that have the virus on them, and possibly by pools and hot tubs. In adults it can be commonly found in those who frequent public exercise gyms. MVC lives in the skin, not in the blood, and can be treated, but will go away on its own for people with healthy immune systems.

Transmission

The molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is transmitted through direct skin to skin contact. This type of contact can be nonsexual or sexual contact. For transmission to occur, the contact must take place with an infected area.

Sexual contact can include vaginal, anal, oral sex. It can also include oral to vulva (outer female genital area), vulva to vulva, or oral to anus (rimming) contact.

Non-sexual transmission can occur with inanimate objects such as towels, doorknobs, faucet handles, or toys. Transmission from pools, hot tubs, saunas, or other hot/warm environments can be possible, but this has not yet been proven, and may just be from shared towels or objects around the water and not from the water itself.

People who touch the bumps caused by MCV or scratch at them can cause the virus to spread to other parts of their body.

Once the bumps have gone away, re-infection is possible. The body does not build up immunity to MCV.
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Symptoms

Many people infected with the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) will not have any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are experienced as an outbreak of firm, smooth, rounded bumps (2 to 5 millimeters in diameter) that have a dip in the middle of them. They can be flesh colored, tan, grey-white, yellow, or pink. These bumps will usually go away in six to twelve months for those with a healthy immune system, but can last as long as four years.

For adults, these bumps usually occur on the thighs, groin, buttocks, external genital and anal region, and the lower abdomen. For children they usually occur on the legs, arms, trunk, and face.

People with weakened immune systems (like those with AIDS) could have extensive outbreaks occur on any part of their bodies.
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Testing / Diagnosis

Molluscum contagiosum can be diagnosed by the characteristics of its bumps. It can also be diagnosed with laboratory tests done on a sample taken from one of the bumps. Testing could be done by viewing the sample under an electron microscope or placing it onto a slide and staining it with a Gram stain (shows changes in infected cells).
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Treatment

There is no cure for the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), but the bumps caused by it will eventually go away on their own. However, a health care provider will usually remove them to help prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the body and to other people.

Removal of the bumps can be done by cryotherapy (freezing the bumps), curettage (removing the fluid inside the bumps), lasers, or surgery. These methods could be painful and should only be performed by a health care provider. Creams can also be used to remove the bumps, but may not always be effective.
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Complications

For people who have a weakened immune system, the outbreaks from Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) will be worse. The bumps can be 15 millimeters or more in diameter and can occur anywhere on the body, but most often on the face, and they will not go away without the help of treatment.
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Prevention

To avoid the transmission of the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) from sexual contact, abstaining from sexual contact is the surest way. A mutual monogamous relationship with a trusted partner known to be uninfected is another way.

Using a latex condom during vaginal or anal sex can reduce the risk of transmission. Correctly using a condom can also reduce the risk of transmission during oral sex (mouth to penis). For other forms of oral sex (mouth to vulva, the outer female genital area, or oral to anal, also known as rimming) using a dental dam, plastic wrap, or a latex condom cut up and opened flat are risk reducers. However, MCV can infect areas the condom or barrier method do not cover, so transmission is still possible during these types of sexual contact.

People who share sex toys should place condoms on them, switching to a new condom when the toy goes from one person to another. People should also wash their hands after handling the sex toys.

Those infected with MCV can prevent it from spreading to other parts of their bodies by not touching or scratching the bumps. Covering the bumps can also prevent it from being spread to other parts of the body or to other people.

If a person is known to be infected, avoid sexual contact with him or her. Also avoid sharing towels, clothing, and other personal objects to reduce your risks of transmission of MCV.
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