Molluscum contagiosum, known simply as molluscum, is a contagious viral disease that can infect adults suffering from a weakened immune system, but most often affects children between the age of one and 10. The virus causes a characteristic skin condition that can be treated with a number of methods or, if the condition is relatively mild, can be allowed to resolve itself on its own within six months to a year. You can prevent your child from contracting mollscum by teaching them to make a few basic preventative measures a regular part of their daily routine.
Aspects
Molluscum contagiosum infections are most common in wet, humid parts of the world that are densely populated. It is spread primarily through direct person to person contact, but children can also pick up the virus by touching toys, clothing or towels that have touched the infected skin of a person with the disease. Because the virus is one that infects the outer, epithelial, layer of skin only and does not enter the bloodstream, once the skin condition that the virus causes is resolved, you can be certain that the virus is gone. However, although the molluscum contagiosum virus belongs to the same family of poxviruses as smallpox, there is no way to achieve immunity from the condition through either a smallpox vaccination or even from having had it previously.
Symptoms
The molluscum contagiosum virus causes small, firm bumps to develop on the skin. These bumps have a small dimple at the top or in the center, and can easily become sore, itchy and inflamed. They may be red, pink, white or flesh-colored. While the bumps can appear anywhere on the body, children tend to develop the bumps on skin above the waist, particularly the arms, hands, neck, armpits and face. If the child scratches the bumps, they can come off, giving the virus access to other parts of the skin.
Diagnosis
The appearance of the skin bumps usually makes a diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum fairly simple, although your child's physician may take a small scraping of skin from an infected portion area to examine the cells under a microscope just to be certain.
Treatment
The first step in treating molluscum is to prevent the bumps from spreading to unaffected skin. You can do this by ensuring that every bump is either covered by clothing or a watertight bandage. There are two types of long-term treatments for molluscum: direct removal of the skin bumps and medication. Cryotherapy--freezing the bumps, then removing them--laser treatment and curettage, a procedure that removes fluid from the inside of the bumps, are all ways to physically remove the bumps, but they tend to be expensive and painful and aren't appropriate for treating children with the disease. Medicated creams applied directly to the skin and the oral antiviral medication cimetidine are better options for young children.
Prevention
You can help your child avoid picking up the molluscum virus by teaching her good hygiene habits, including the importance of washing hands promptly and regularly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifies that to thoroughly wash your hands, you need to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 10 to 15 seconds before rinsing and drying. In addition, teach your child not to share clothes, towels or other personal items with friends.
Member Comments