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Molluscum contagiosum

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Molluscumcontagiosumisaviralskininfectioncausedbythemolluscumcontagiosumvirus.Itisa
sexuallytransmissibleinfection(STI)inadultsasitcanbespreadbyskin-to-skincontact,during
sexualcontact.Apersoncanalsospreadthemaroundtheirbodybyscratching,especiallyinareas
wheretheskinisbroken.Occasionally,bathing,towelsandotherobjectscanspreadmolluscum
contagiosum.
Molluscumcontagiosuminchildreniscommonandresultsfromclosecontactwithotherchildren
whohavetheinfection.

Symptoms of molluscum contagiosum

molluscumcontagiosummaycausesmalllumpsorlesions(around15mmindiameter)toappear
ontheskinofthethighs,genitalsandabdominalarea.Itusuallydoesnotaffectotherpartsof
yourbody.
Thelesions:

arepainless,butmaybeslightlyitchy
oftenhaveatinycentralindentation
canbenumerousandcoverthighs,genitalandabdominalarea
willeventuallyresolvewithouttreatment(areself-limiting)withinafewmonths.

Diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum

Molluscumcontagiosumcanbemistakenforgenitalwartsorpimples.Ifyounoticeanyunusual
skinlesions,itisrecommendedthatyouseeyourdoctororotherexperiencedhealthprofessional
foranaccuratediagnosis.Thereisnotestformolluscumcontagiosumitisdiagnosedbythe
lesionsappearanceonly.YourhealthprofessionalmayrecommendtestsforSTIsatthesametime
ifyouhavemolluscumcontagiosum.

Treatment of molluscum contagiosum

Treatmentisavailable,althoughmolluscumcontagiosumwilleventuallyclearupbyitselfifleft
untreated.Thelesionsareusuallytreatedwithliquidnitrogen,whichfreezesthelesion.Thishelps
reducethelengthoftimethatsymptomsarepresent.
Liquidnitrogentreatment:

Iscommonlyavailablefromyourlocaldoctororsexualhealthcentre
Iscosmeticanditisnotacure,asthevirusremainsontheskinuntilyourimmunesystem
hasgotridofit
Usually,onlyasingletreatmentisneeded.However,itmaytakeacoupleofweeksforthe
lumpstodisappearafterfreezingwithliquidnitrogen.

Peoplewithsuppressedimmunesystemsmaytakelongerformolluscumcontagiosumtoclear.
Sexualpartnersofapersonwithmolluscumcontagiosumdonotneedtreatmentiftheyhaveno
lesionsontheirbody.

Complications of molluscum contagiosum

Molluscumcontagiosum

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Bacterialinfectionscancomplicatemolluscumcontagiosum,however,thisisrare.Tolessenthe
riskofbacterialinfectionorthespreadofmolluscumcontagiosum,donotpick,squeezeorirritate
thelesions.Thereisnoneedtoapplycreamsorlotions,justkeepupyourusualhygienepractices.

If molluscum contagiosum is not treated

Molluscumcontagiosumisamild,self-limitingskininfection.Withouttreatment,itcanpersistfor
severalmonths,butwilleventuallyresolve.Theduration,severityandlengthoftreatmentof
molluscumcontagiosumvariesfrompersontoperson.

Where to get help

MelbourneSexualHealthCentreTel.(03)93416200or1800032017orTTY(forthe
hearingimpaired)(03)93478619
Yourdoctor

Things to remember

Molluscumcontagiosumisamild,harmlessviralskininfection.
Itischaracterisedbysmall,smooth,round,pearlylumpswithacentralcore.
Theinfectionusuallyresolvesitself,buttreatmentcanshortenthelengthofsymptoms.
Yoursexualpartnersdonotneedtreatmentiftheyhavenosymptoms.
TestingforotherSTIsisrecommended.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

MelbourneSexualHealthCentre
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aboutatherapy,service,productortreatmentdoesnotimplyendorsementandisnotintendedto
replaceadvicefromyourdoctororotherregisteredhealthprofessional.Contenthasbeen
preparedforVictorianresidentsandwiderAustralianaudiences,andwasaccurateatthetimeof
publication.Readersshouldnotethat,overtime,currencyandcompletenessoftheinformation
maychange.Allusersareurgedtoalwaysseekadvicefromaregisteredhealthcareprofessional
fordiagnosisandanswerstotheirmedicalquestions.
Forthelatestupdatesandmoreinformation,visitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
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Molluscumcontagiosum

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