Contagious Molluscum

1. Small, Dome-Shaped Bumps:

   These are flesh-colored, white, or pink, often about 2-5 mm in size, and may have a central dimple.

2. Painless:

   While usually painless, the bumps can cause mild discomfort if they become inflamed or infected.

3. Itching:

   In some cases, mild itching may occur, and scratching can cause the infection to spread.

4. Localized Clusters:

   The bumps often appear in clusters and commonly affect the face, neck, arms, and hands in children. In adults, they may appear in the genital area, lower abdomen, or inner thighs.

5. Secondary Infections:

   Sometimes, scratching can lead to secondary infections, making the bumps red, swollen, or painful.

Although not a severe health threat, contagious molluscum can persist for several months, and in people with weakened immune systems, the infection may last longer or become more widespread.

1. Good Personal Hygiene
   • Wash hands regularly with soap and water, especially after touching the affected area or bumps.
   • Keep your skin clean and dry to avoid the spread of the virus.
2. Avoid Skin-to-Skin Contact:
   • Refrain from touching, scratching, or rubbing the bumps.
   • Avoid direct contact with the infected skin of others, particularly in group settings like schools, daycare centres, or sports activities.
3. Don’t Share Personal Items:
   • Do not share towels, clothing, washcloths, razors, or other personal items with anyone who has molluscum contagiosum.
   • Use your own clean towels and washcloths after bathing.
4. Cover the Bumps:
   • If you have molluscum bumps, cover them with clothing or a bandage to minimise contact with others and prevent spreading the virus.
   • Change the bandage daily or if it becomes wet.
5. Avoid Sexual Contact:
   • For adults, avoid sexual contact if you or your partner has molluscum bumps, especially in the genital area.
   • Use condoms to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, although this may not completely prevent transmission.
6. Don’t Share Sports Equipment:
   • Avoid sharing sports equipment that comes into direct contact with the skin, such as mats, helmets, or gym equipment, unless it has been properly cleaned.
7. Manage Existing Bumps:
   • Avoid picking at or scratching the molluscum bumps, as this can cause them to spread to other parts of the body (self-inoculation).
   • Keep the affected areas dry and clean to prevent secondary infections.

By maintaining good hygiene and avoiding direct contact with the virus, you can reduce the risk of getting or spreading contagious molluscum.

• Children: More common in children due to close contact during play.
• Weakened Immune System: People with conditions like HIV/AIDS or those undergoing treatments like chemotherapy.
• Sexual Activity: Adults can contract it through sexual contact
• Warm, Humid Climates: These conditions may increase the likelihood of spread.

• Physical Examination: A doctor can typically diagnose molluscum contagiosum by examining the characteristic bumps.
• Skin Biopsy: In rare cases, a small tissue sample may be taken for laboratory analysis to confirm the diagnosis.
• Dermatoscopy: A closer look at the skin using a dermatoscope may help with diagnosis.

1. Thuja Occidentalis:
   • Commonly used for skin conditions with warts or growths. It may help reduce the appearance of the molluscum bumps.
   • Tearing pains in glands. Glandular enlargement.
   • Eruptions only on covered parts; worse after scratching. Very sensitive to touch.
   • Rapid exhaustion and emaciation.
2. Causticum:
   • Known for its action on skin affections, especially when there are painful and infected bumps.
   • Manifests its action mainly in chronic rheumatic, arthritic, and paralytic affections, indicated by tearing, drawing pains in the muscular and fibrous tissues.
   • The skin of a Causticum person is of a dirty white sallow, with warts, especially on the face.
   • Soreness in folds of skin, back of ears, between thighs.
3. Antimonium Crudum:
   • Useful when there are small, hard, and crusty bumps.
   • Eczema with gastric derangements.
   • Pimples, vesicles, and pustules.
   • Itching when warm in bed. Dry skin.
   • Scaly, pustular eruption with burning and itching, worse at night.
4. Sulphur:
   • May be used in cases where there is intense itching or irritation around the bumps.
   • Its action is centrifugal—from within outward—having an elective affinity for the skin, where it produces heat and burning, with itching.
   • Dirty, filthy people, prone to skin affections.
   • Dry, scaly, unhealthy; every little injury suppurates.
5. Calcarea Carbonica:
   • Suitable for individuals with weakened immune systems who are more susceptible to viral infections like molluscum contagiosum.
   • Crusta lactea; itching, burning after washing.
   • Itching of pimples in whiskers.
   • Abscesses in deep muscles; polypi and exostoses.