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Molluscum contagiosum

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Abdul Rehman Arshad at National University of Medical Sciences
Abdul Rehman Arshad
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© J PIONEER MED SCI.www.jpmsonline.com Volume 5, Issue 4. October-December, 2015 Page | 124
Molluscum Contagiousum
Abdul Rehman Arshad1
1Medical Specialist, Department of Medicine, 1 Mountain Medical Battalion (MDS), Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Figure 1: Gross appearance of skin lesions in right hypochondrium
Conflict of Interest: None
declared
This article has been peer
reviewed.
Article Submitted on: 1st
January 2015
Article Accepted on: 18th
April 2015
Funding Sources: None
declared
Correspondence to: Dr
Abdul Rehman Arshad
Address: Department of
Medicine, 1 Mountain
Medical Battalion (MDS),
Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
E-mail:
maj.abdulrehman@gmail
.com
Cite this Article: Arshad
AR. Molluscum
contagiousum. J Pioneer
Med Sci 2015; 5(4):124
A 35-year-old female presented with
asymptomatic skin lesions on her abdomen, the
first of these lesions was noticed three months
ago. Since then, the lesions continued to increase
in number and size but had remained localized to
the area. She had an open cholecystectomy for
gallstones at another medical facility, about a
month prior to noticing these lesions. There was
no family history of similar skin lesions. Clinical
examination revealed multiple dome-shaped
papules distributed around the scar of a
transverse incision in the right hypochondrium.
Most of these lesions were around 1 to 5 mm in
diameter with a shiny surface, whereas some of
the lesions had a clear central indentation (Figure
1). There was no inflammation. A diagnosis of
molluscum contagiosum was established on
visual inspection.
Molluscum contagiosum is a poxvirus infection
seen mostly in children, although it can affect
any age group [1]. The virus only infects humans
and spreads via direct skin to skin contact
through contact sports as well as by sharing of
towels etc [2]. Figure 1 highlights that the patient
possibly acquired this infection during the
perioperative period. The anatomical location of
the skin lesions as well as the time period
between the surgery and the onset of skin disease
is consistent with this hypothesis. The average
incubation period for molluscum contagiosum is
generally two to six weeks and the virus can also
be uncommonly transmitted from surgeon to
patients [3, 4].
REFERENCES
1. Chen X, Anstey AV, Bugert JJ. Molluscum
contagiosum virus infection. Lancet Infect Dis 2013;
13:877-88.
2. McCollum AM, Holman RC, Hughes CM, Mehal
JM, Folkema AM, Redd JT, et al.
Molluscum contagiosum in a pediatric American Indian
population: incidence and risk factors. PLoS One 2014;
9:e103419.
3. Braue A, Ross G, Varigos G, Kelly H. Epidemiology
and impact of childhood molluscum contagiosum: a
case series and critical review of the literature. Pediatr
Dermatol 2005; 22:287-94.
4. Gottlieb SL, Myskowski PL. Molluscum contagiosum.
Int J Dermatol 1994; 33:453-61.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
Molluscum contagiosum virus infection
Article
  • Aug 2013
Molluscum contagiosum virus is an important human skin pathogen: it can cause disfigurement and suffering in children, in adults it is less common and often sexually transmitted. Extensive and persistent skin infection with the virus can indicate underlying immunodeficiency. Traditional ablative therapies have not been compared directly with newer immune-modulating and specific antiviral therapies. Advances in research raise the prospect of new approaches to treatment informed by the biology of the virus; in human skin, the infection is localised in the epidermal layers, where it induces a typical, complex hyperproliferative lesion with an abundance of virus particles but a conspicuous absence of immune effectors. Functional studies of the viral genome have revealed effects on cellular pathways involved in the cell cycle, innate immunity, inflammation, and cell death. Extensive lesions caused by molluscum contagiosum can occur in patients with DOCK8 deficiency-a genetic disorder affecting migration of dendritic and specialised T cells in skin. Sudden disappearance of lesions is the consequence of a vigorous immune response in healthy people. Further study of the unique features of infection with molluscum contagiosum virus could give fundamental insight into the nature of skin immunity.
View
Epidemiology and Impact of Childhood Molluscum Contagiosum: A Case Series and Critical Review of the Literature
Article
  • Jul 2005
  • PEDIATR DERMATOL
Parents of 30 children with clinically diagnosed molluscum contagiosum were surveyed to assess their perception of the condition, its treatment, its impact on their everyday lives, and on the children themselves. Among parents, 82% reported that molluscum contagiosum concerned them moderately or greatly. Concerns focused on physical issues associated with the infection, such as scarring, itching, chance of spread to peers, pain, and the effects of treatments. Quality of life was not affected. Molluscum contagiosum was most common among school-age children. Eighteen of 29 respondents swam in public pools, a common activity in children of this age. All epidemiologic studies of molluscum contagiosum in otherwise healthy individuals, published since 1966, have been critically reviewed herein. The review confirms an association between swimming pool use and molluscum contagiosum. Age, living in close proximity, skin-to-skin contact, sharing of fomites, and residence in tropical climates were also associated with higher rates of infection while sex, seasonality, and hygiene showed no such association.
View
View
Molluscum contagiosum in a pediatric American Indian population: incidence and risk factors
  • Jan 2014
  • PLOS ONE
  • 103419
Molluscum contagiosum in a pediatric American Indian population: incidence and risk factors. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103419.
Epidemiology and impact of childhood molluscum contagiosum: a case series and critical review of the literature
  • Jan 2005
  • PEDIATR DERMATOL
  • 287-294
  • A Braue
  • G Ross
  • G Varigos
  • H Kelly
Braue A, Ross G, Varigos G, Kelly H. Epidemiology and impact of childhood molluscum contagiosum: a case series and critical review of the literature. Pediatr Dermatol 2005; 22:287-94.