Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by Stacy Sampson, DO
Molluscum Contagiosum STI/STD Brief
These briefs are intended to give readers (specifically those who weren’t aware many of these STIs/STDs existed) an overview of each STI, their commonality, treatment options, and diagnostic tests available.
This information is by no means all-encompassing and The STI Project encourages using these briefs as primers and then further delving into the resources section when subsequent questions arise.
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Molluscum Contagiosum Symptoms, Test & Treatment
Common? Quite common – Around 200,000 to 800,000 people contract it in the U.S. annually
Symptoms Small, waxy, round growths in the genital area or on the thighs. There is often a tiny indentation in the middle of the growth. Symptoms usually appear between two to three months after infection. Often there are no other symptoms. But sometimes the bumps may itch or feel tender to the touch.
Cure? A health care provider can remove the small growths with chemicals, with an electrical current, or by freezing them. Or you can use a prescription medicine that can be applied at home.
Bacterial/Viral/ Fungal/Parasitic Viral
Test Examining the growths. Your provider may also take a scraping from a growth to look at with a microscope.
Life-Long? No
Life-Threatening? No
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References
- Symptoms
- Kawada, Tomoyuki. “Molluscum contagiosum and associations with atopic eczema in children: a retrospective longitudinal study in primary care.” (2019).
- Loh, Tiffany Y., et al. “Molluscum Contagiosum of the Nipple-Areola Complex.” Nipple-Areolar Complex Reconstruction. Springer, Cham, 2018. 145-151.
- Fonocho, Ernest, Richard Murray, and Nail Aydin. “Disseminated coccidioidomycosis with molluscum-like lesions, diffuse lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly in an immunocompetent patient.” International medical case reports journal 10 (2017): 251.
- Chikazawa, Sakiko, et al. “Widespread Molluscum Contagiosum with Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Manifestations.” Acta dermato-venereologica 97.2 (2017): 291-292.
- DiBiagio, Jennifer R., Tia Pyle, and Justin J. Green. “Reviewing the use of imiquimod for molluscum contagiosum.” Dermatology online journal 24.6 (2018).
- Testing
- Kaufman, William S., Christine S. Ahn, and William W. Huang. “Molluscum contagiosum in immunocompromised patients: AIDS presenting as molluscum contagiosum in a patient with psoriasis on biologic therapy.” Cutis 101.2 (2018): 136-140.
- Trčko, Katarina, et al. “Clinical, histopathological, and virological evaluation of 203 patients with a clinical diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum.” Open forum infectious diseases. Vol. 5. No. 11. US: Oxford University Press, 2018.
- Sorte, Hanne S., et al. “A potential founder variant in CARMIL2/RLTPR in three Norwegian families with warts, molluscum contagiosum, and T‐cell dysfunction.” Molecular genetics & genomic medicine 4.6 (2016): 604-616.
- Mendez-Rios, Jorge D., et al. “Molluscum contagiosum virus transcriptome in abortively infected cultured cells and a human skin lesion.” Journal of virology 90.9 (2016): 4469-4480.
- Uzuncakmak, Tugba K., et al. “Isolated giant molluscum contagiosum mimicking epidermoid cyst.” Dermatology practical & conceptual 6.3 (2016): 71.
- Treatment
- Guzman, Anthony K., et al. “Safety and efficacy of topical cantharidin for the treatment of pediatric molluscum contagiosum: a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled pilot trial.” International journal of dermatology 57.8 (2018): 1001-1006.
- Vakharia, Paras P., et al. “Efficacy and safety of topical cantharidin treatment for molluscum contagiosum and warts: a systematic review.” American journal of clinical dermatology 19.6 (2018): 791-803.
- Harel, Avikam, et al. “To Treat Molluscum Contagiosum or Not—Curettage: An Effective, Well‐Accepted Treatment Modality.” Pediatric dermatology 33.6 (2016): 640-645.
- Giner-Soriano, Maria, et al. “Randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial on efficacy and safety of topical 10% Potassium hydroxide for molluscum contagiosum treatment in children.” Journal of Dermatological Treatment (2019): 1-7.
- Haque, Malika, and Daniel L. Coury. “Treatment of molluscum contagiosum with an East Indian sandalwood oil product.” Journal of Dermatological Treatment 29.5 (2018): 531-533.
- Prevention
- Hodges, Ashley L., and Aimee C. Holland. “Prevention and Treatment of Injuries and Infections Related to Pubic Hair Removal.” Nursing for women’s health 21.4 (2017): 313-317.
- Allen, H. B., R. M. Allawh, and S. Ballal. “Virally-Induced, Intracellular Biofilms; Novel Findings in Molluscum Contagiosum.” Clin Microbiol 6.302 (2017): 2.
- Scott, Christopher M., Ronald R. Lubritz, and Gloria F. Graham. “Prevention and management of complications.” Dermatological Cryosurgery and Cryotherapy. Springer, London, 2016. 235-240.
- Damevska, Katerina, and Arben Emurlai. “molluscum Contagiosum in a Patient with Atopic Dermatitis.” New England Journal of Medicine 377.21 (2017): e30.
- Hall, Anthony. “Molluscum Contagiosum.” Atlas of Male Genital Dermatology. Springer, Cham, 2019. 91-92.
- Transmission
- Neri, Iria, et al. “Congenital molluscum contagiosum.” Paediatrics & child health 22.5 (2017): 241.
- Zhuang, Kaiwen, et al. “Atypical infantile genital Molluscum contagiosum.” Anais brasileiros de dermatologia 90.3 (2015): 403-405.
- Nunns, David, and Rosalind Simpson. “Molluscum Contagiosum.” Vulvar Disease. Springer, Cham, 2019. 105-106.
- Bhengra, Masuma P., et al. “HAART–The best treatment modality for widespread and disfigured giant molluscum contagiosum.” Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatology 25.4 (2016): 314-318.
- Ruby, Kristen N., Ann E. Perry, and Konstantinos Linos. “Expanding the Morphologic Heterogeneity of Stromal Changes in Molluscum Contagiosum Infection.” The American Journal of Dermatopathology 40.12 (2018): 941-943.
