Highlights & Basics
- Molluscum contagiosum is a common infection in children and young adults and is usually acquired through direct skin-to-skin contact. Diagnosis is clinical in the majority of cases.
- Lesions appear as umbilicated, pearl-like, smooth papules. At least one third of patients will develop symptoms of local erythema, swelling, or pruritus.
- Immunocompromise and underlying skin disease, particularly atopic dermatitis, increase the risk of molluscum infection.
- Anogenital molluscum should prompt a full sexual health screen.
- Most molluscum contagiosum infections require no treatment and resolve spontaneously.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Extensive molluscum lesions on the flank of a young child; lesions are flesh to pearly colored with central dells
Molluscum contagiosum on the face of an adult, which may be the presenting sign of HIV infection as in this case
Molluscum on the arm of a child with atopic dermatitis demonstrating pearly papules with a central dell and areas of excoriation and erythema due to inflammation
Dermatoscopic findings of Molluscum contagiosum. Red arrows indicate white-to-yellow polylobular structures; blue arrows: crown vessels. (Polarized-light dermoscopy, original magnification 10x)
Forearm: pearly papules with a central dell and areas of excoriation and erythema due to inflammation
Citations
Fernando I, K Edwards S, Grover D. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV national guideline for the management of genital molluscum in adults (2021). Int J STD AIDS. 2022 Apr;33(5):422-32.[Abstract]
Edwards S, Boffa MJ, Janier M, et al. 2020 European guideline on the management of genital molluscum contagiosum. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021 Jan;35(1):17-26.[Abstract][Full Text]
van der Wouden JC, van der Sande R, Kruithof EJ, et al. Interventions for cutaneous molluscum contagiosum. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 May 17;(5):CD004767.[Abstract][Full Text]
1. Silverberg NB. Warts and molluscum in children. Adv Dermatol. 2004;20:23-73.[Abstract]
2. Luke JD, Silverberg NB. Vertically transmitted molluscum contagiosum infection. Pediatrics. 2010 Feb;125(2):e423-5.[Abstract]
3. Olsen JR, Gallacher J, Piguet V, et al. Epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum in children: a systematic review. Fam Pract. 2013 Dec 2;31(2):130-6.[Abstract][Full Text]
4. Berger EM, Orlow SJ, Patel RR, et al. Experience with molluscum contagiosum and associated inflammatory reactions in a pediatric dermatology practice: the bump that rashes. Arch Dermatol. 2012 Nov;148(11):1257-64.[Abstract][Full Text]
5. Becker TM, Blount JH, Douglas J, et al. Trends in molluscum contagiosum in the United States, 1966-1983. Sex Transm Dis. 1986 Apr-Jun;13(2):88-92.[Abstract][Full Text]
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Molluscum contagiosum. May 2015 [internet publication].[Full Text]
7. Ren Z, Silverberg JI. Association of atopic dermatitis with bacterial, fungal, viral, and sexually transmitted skin infections. Dermatitis. 2020 Mar/Apr;31(2):157-64.[Abstract]
8. Fernando I, K Edwards S, Grover D. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV national guideline for the management of genital molluscum in adults (2021). Int J STD AIDS. 2022 Apr;33(5):422-32.[Abstract]
9. Filo-Rogulska M, Pindycka-Piaszczyńska M, Januszewski K, et al. Disseminated atypical molluscum contagiosum as a presenting symptom of HIV infection. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2013 Feb;30(1):56-8.[Abstract][Full Text]
10. Sturt RJ, Muller HK, Francis GD. Molluscum contagiosum in villages of the West Sepik District of New Guinea. Med J Aust. 1971 Oct 9;2(15):751-4.[Abstract]
11. López-Bueno A, Parras-Moltó M, López-Barrantes O, et al. Recombination events and variability among full-length genomes of co-circulating molluscum contagiosum virus subtypes 1 and 2. J Gen Virol. 2017 May;98(5):1073-9.[Abstract][Full Text]
12. Edwards S, Boffa MJ, Janier M, et al. 2020 European guideline on the management of genital molluscum contagiosum. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021 Jan;35(1):17-26.[Abstract][Full Text]
13. Peterson AR, Nash E, Anderson BJ. Infectious disease in contact sports. Sports Health. 2019 Jan/Feb;11(1):47-58.[Abstract][Full Text]
14. Choong KY, Roberts LJ. Molluscum contagiosum, swimming and bathing: a clinical analysis. Australas J Dermatol. 1999 May;40(2):89-92.[Abstract]
15. Silverberg NB, Sidbury R, Mancini AJ. Childhood molluscum contagiosum: experience with cantharidin therapy in 300 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 Sep;43(3):503-7.[Abstract]
16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Molluscum contagiosum: clinical information. May 2015 [internet publication].[Full Text]
17. Hayashida S, Furusho N, Uchi H, et al. Are lifetime prevalence of impetigo, molluscum and herpes infection really increased in children having atopic dermatitis? J Dermatol Sci. 2010 Dec;60(3):173-8.[Abstract]
18. Olsen JR, Gallacher J, Piguet V, et al. Development and validation of the Molluscum Contagiosum Diagnostic Tool for Parents: diagnostic accuracy study in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2014 Aug;64(625):e471-6.[Abstract][Full Text]
19. Chelidze K, Thomas C, Chang AY, et al. HIV-related skin disease in the era of antiretroviral therapy: recognition and management. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2019 Jun;20(3):423-42.[Abstract][Full Text]
20. Maybury C, Craythorne E. Peri-oral papules. BMJ. 2013 Feb 11;346:f750.[Abstract][Full Text]
21. van der Wouden JC, van der Sande R, Kruithof EJ, et al. Interventions for cutaneous molluscum contagiosum. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 May 17;(5):CD004767.[Abstract][Full Text]
22. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Clinical knowledge summaries. Scenario: management of molluscum contagiosum. Apr 2021 [internet publication].[Full Text]
23. Chen X, Anstey AV, Bugert JJ. Molluscum contagiosum virus infection. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013 Oct;13(10):877-88.[Abstract]
24. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Molluscum contagiosum: treatment. Oct 2017 [internet publication].[Full Text]
25. Vakharia PP, Chopra R, Silverberg NB, et al. Efficacy and safety of topical cantharidin treatment for molluscum contagiosum and warts: a systematic review. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018 Dec;19(6):791-803.[Abstract]
26. Bansal S, Relhan V, Roy E, et al. Disseminated molluscum contagiosum in a patient on methotrexate therapy for psoriasis. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2014 Mar-Apr;80(2):179-80.[Abstract][Full Text]
27. Forbat E, Al-Niaimi F, Ali FR. Molluscum contagiosum: review and update on management. Pediatr Dermatol. 2017 Sep;34(5):504-15.[Abstract]
28. Di Lernia V, Casanova DM, Simonetti V. Dupilumab may facilitate the clearance of molluscum contagiosum in atopic dermatitis patients. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2020 Sep;18(9):1016-8.[Abstract]
29. Storan ER, Woolf RT, Smith CH, et al. Clearance of molluscum contagiosum virus infection in patients with atopic eczema treated with dupilumab. Br J Dermatol. 2019 Aug;181(2):385-6.[Abstract]
30. Ferrucci S, Tavecchio S, Veraldi S, et al. Transitory dissemination of molluscum contagiosum in a patient treated with dupilumab for atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol. 2020 Jul 2;100(14):adv00207.[Abstract]
31. Sevray M, Dupré D, Misery L, et al. Hair regrowth and dissemination of molluscum contagiosum: two unexpected effects with dupilumab. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Aug;33(8):e296-8.[Abstract]
32. Moiin A. Photodynamic therapy for molluscum contagiosum infection in HIV-coinfected patients: review of 6 patients. J Drugs Dermatol. 2003 Dec;2(6):637-9.[Abstract]
33. Javed S, Tyring SK. Treatment of molluscum contagiosum with ingenol mebutate. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 May;70(5):e105.[Abstract]
34. Shin K, Bae KN, Kim HS, et al. Ingenol mebutate gel for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum: an open-label comparative pilot study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Jan;82(1):254-5.[Abstract][Full Text]
35. Schaffer JV, Berger EM. Molluscum contagiosum. JAMA Dermatol. 2016 Sep 1;152(9):1072.[Abstract][Full Text]
36. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Molluscum contagiosum: prevention. May 2015 [internet publication].[Full Text]
