Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that can be spread through contact with infected objects or skin. Symptoms include pearl-shaped papules on the skin, redness, and fever. It is contagious and can take up to a year to resolve. Treatment methods can be painful and may cause scarring.
Molluscum contagiosum is a type of viral skin infection. The infection is quite common in children. It can also be seen in adults, however, adults with the infection concentrated in the genital area may have a sexually transmitted disease. Some people who get molluscum contagiosum have diseases known to weaken the immune system, such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In general, the most common of the symptoms of molluscum contagiosum are pearl-shaped papules on the skin.
Molluscum contagiosum infection is contagious. Traces of the viral infection can remain on objects such as clothes, toys, faucets, towels and doorknobs. A person can also get the disease by touching a papule on someone with the infection. In adults, sexual contact with a person with the infection can cause it to spread. It should also be known that scratching the irritated skin can cause the papules to spread to other areas of the skin.
Usually, the appearance of lesions or papules on the skin is one of the most easily visible symptoms of molluscum contagiosum. The papules are usually flesh-colored and look like a pearl. They are generally small in size, with an average width of a couple of millimeters. In most cases, the spots are painless. Also, some itching can usually be expected.
Like many types of skin irritations, symptoms of molluscum contagiosum can include redness or inflammation. Although in most cases, the redness or swelling in the affected areas is usually brought on by excessive scratching of the skin. Most papules will have a small dot on their head. The location of the irritations can vary. Many outbreaks occur on the hands, neck, face, arms, abdomen and inner thighs.
Since molluscum contagiosum is an infection, fever can also be a symptom. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and weakness. A doctor can diagnose this condition by scraping a section of skin to examine it under a microscope. It is important to accurately identify molluscum contagiosum, as the papules can look similar to those of another type of health condition. For example, some STDs can have similar-looking rashes.
Typically, the symptoms of molluscum contagiosum resolve after a while. The papules can take up to a year to completely dissolve. Some individuals may have particularly annoying papules that are frozen, lasered, or scraped off. These particular treatment methods can cause scarring and be painful to bear. If exposed to an environment where molluscum contagiosum is active, washing your hands frequently and thoroughly can prevent the infection from spreading rapidly.
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