MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM

• Molluscum contagiosum is a common localized skin infection caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus(MCV 1 to 4 and their variants) that often occurs on the trunk, face and genitalia
• It mainly affects children, sexually active adults and persons with impaired cellular immunity
• Individual lesions are smooth surfaced , firm, dome shaped pearly papules. A central umbilication is characteristic

Causative agent

• Molluscum contagiosum virus
• Transmission is through direct skin contact (contact sports, sexually transmitted) and Autoinoculation (koebner phenomenon) and contact with Fomites (e.g. on bath sponges/towels)

Risk factors

• Immunosuppression, active atopic dermatitis (in children), hot and humid climates, crowded living conditions

• Nontender, skin-coloured, pearly, dome-shaped papules with central umbilication. Usually 2–5 mm in diameter and giant lesions may be > 15 mm especially in immunocompromised patients. Papules contain a caseous plug. It heals without scarring

Predilection sites:

• In children: face, trunk, and extremities (e.g., axilla, antecubital and popliteal fossa) although perianal, scrotal and groin lesions may be present as a part of wider distribution.
• In adults: lower abdomen, groin, genitalia, and proximal thighs

Differential diagnosis

• Cutaneous cryptococcosis
• Cutaneous histoplasmosis
• Cutaneous aspergillosis
• Condyloma acuminatum
• Condylomata lata
• Keratoacanthoma
• Verruca vulgaris
• Flat warts

• Usually clinical diagnosis is done
• Giemsa’s/ Gram stain from smear of the cheesy material from the lesions shows intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies that are eosinophilic, smooth, ovoid and homogenous within epithelial cells

Internal medicines

• Guduchyadi kashaya
• Vilwadi gutika
• Doosheevishari gutika

Procedures

• Chiratta taila + mattan taila – ext application
• Rasottamadi lepa