Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral infection of the skin and, occasionally, of the conjunctiva which is spread by close person-to-person contact. It is characterized by the formation of numerous pearly-white, umbilicated papular lesions on the face, trunk and genital area. Children, especially those with eczema, are often infected. Molluscum lesions are also frequently seen among sexually active adults, especially those infected with HIV.

Treatment

A simple therapeutic option is to pierce the molluscum body with a needle and treat the base with silver nitrate or any other mild sclerosing agent. The lesions can also be treated by any local destructive measure such as the use of liquid nitrogen or electrocautery. If possible, patients should be seen at least twice, about 3-4 weeks apart, in order to treat incubating lesions that are too small to see initially.