Molluscum Contagiosum

Symptoms

Symptoms of molluscum contagiosum include bumps that are:

• Small, round, and often indented in the center.
• Usually pearly and flesh-colored. The bumps may be either clear or red and inflamed.
• Usually about 3 mm (0.1 in.) to 5 mm (0.2 in.) in size (a little smaller than a pencil eraser).
• Sometimes filled with a thick white material.
• Alone or in a group. They are often seen in groups (from a few to 20 or 30) in one or two areas.
• Most often found on the trunk, face, eyelids, or genital area in temperate climates and on extremities in the tropics. In children, bumps usually appear on the trunk, face, and arms. In sexually active adolescents and young adults, the bumps are usually located in the genital area.
• Sometimes itchy.
• Painless.

Bumps usually go away on their own in 2 to 4 months, although they may last longer.

Bumps may develop along with eczema, and you may not notice the bumps as much as the eczema.

Molluscum contagiosum in people who have an impaired immune system, such as HIV infection, can be more serious. The bumps are widespread and:

• Can be large—up to 15 mm (0.6 in.) in size.
• Appear in large numbers. For example, there can be 100 or more bumps on the face.
• Are aggravated by shaving.
• Do not usually go away on their own.
• Are hard to treat.
• Can mimic other serious diseases of people with HIV infection (such as deep fungal infection).

Conditions that may appear similar to molluscum contagiosum include warts, chickenpox, genital warts, basal cell skin cancer, and lichen planus.

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: January 12, 2007
Medical Review:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
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