Clinical Pediatric Dermatology Open Access

Short Note on Molluscum Contagiosum

Sterlla John^* Department of Dermatolgist, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
^*Correspondence: Sterlla John, Department of Dermatolgist, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Tel: +1 240 150 5557, Email:

Received: 07-Dec-2021 Published: 28-Dec-2021

Description

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection which is caused by a virus of the same name. It produces raised bumps, or lesions, on the upper layers of your skin. The small bumps are typically painless. The virus resolves without treatment and rarely leaves scars. The length of time the virus lasts differs for each person, but the bumps can remain from 2 months to 4 years. Molluscum contagiosum transmits between people through direct skin contact with person having the virus or by touching an object that the virus has contaminated, like a towel or a piece of clothing. Medication and surgical treatments are available. The virus can be more difficult to treat it might cause more severe effects if having a weakened immune system. If a child comes into contact with the molluscum contagiosum virus, we may not see symptoms of infection for up to 6 months. These symptoms usually take between 2 and 7 weeks to show from the moment of acquire the molluscum contagiosum virus. You may notice the appearance of small clusters of painless lesions. Skin contact with a person who carries the infection or you can get molluscum contagiosum by touching the lesions on the skin of a person who has this infection. Children can transmit the virus during regular contact while playing with other children. You can also become infected while contact in sports that involve touching bare skin, like wrestling or football. The virus can survive on surfaces of the skin that has made contact with the skin. The virus can remain on equipment for transmission to another person. This may include items like baseball gloves, wrestling mats, and football helmets. If you have molluscum contagiosum, there is a chance of spreading the infection throughout your body. The virus can transfer from one part of your body to another part by touching, scratching, or shaving a bump and then touching another part of your body. The skin bumps which are caused by molluscum contagiosum have a distinct appearance. Due to this reason, a doctor can often diagnose molluscum contagiosum by physically examining the affected area. A Doctor examination is necessary to any skin lesions that last longer than a few days, even though molluscum contagiosum is unlikely to require treatment. A proper diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum will rule out other causes for the lesions, like skin cancer, chickenpox, warts. The best way to prevent getting molluscum contagiosum is to avoid touching the skin of another person who has infected with molluscum contagiosum. Following all these suggestions can also help you prevent the spread of the infection, effective hand washing with warm water and soap reduce the chance if getting molluscum contagiosum. Instruct children in hand-washing techniques as they’re more likely to use touch in play and interaction with others. Avoid sharing personal items with others. This may include towels, clothing, hairbrushes, or bar soaps. Avoid using the shared sports gear that may have come in direct contact with someone else’s bare skin. Avoid picking at or touching the areas of your skin where the bumps are visible. Keep the bumps clean and covered with sanitized cloth to prevent yourself or others from touching them and spreading the virus.