Molluscum Contagiosum

The lesions of molluscum contagiosum are distinctive, appearing as pimples on the skin. They are pearl-like, white or pink nodules that contain a thick white material in the center, known as the molluscum body. Their size ranges from 2 to 5 millimeters, and the incubation period of the virus varies from 7 days to 6 months. Molluscum contagiosum pimples are usually asymptomatic, but if irritated, they can cause itching and bleed. Initially, they appear as small pimples, then they grow, harden, and multiply. In children, the lesions typically appear on the face, trunk, and limbs, while in adults, they are found around the genitals, in the anal area, on the inner thighs, the abdomen, and the armpits. If they appear on a child’s genitals, sexual abuse must be ruled out.

The transmission mode of molluscum contagiosum is through skin contact and the use of shared items such as clothes, towels, etc. It can also be transmitted through autoinoculation, where the same person transfers the virus from one part of their body to another. When the lesions are located in the genital area, the primary mode of transmission is through sexual contact. The use of condoms does not necessarily protect against this transmission because they do not cover areas around the genitals. In children, transmission usually occurs in swimming pools and gyms.

Although molluscum contagiosum tends to self-resolve within 2-6 months, treatment is recommended due to its high transmissibility. When the lesions are few in number, one way to treat them is by removing them with surgical forceps and then applying an iodine tincture. Other alternative treatments include cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen and electrocautery. Finally, the most modern and effective method is the use of CO2 laser, which precisely targets the lesion without affecting the surrounding skin tissue and does not leave scars. Often, multiple sessions are needed to completely eliminate the virus. However, the virus can be eradicated definitively after systematic and comprehensive treatment, and any future recurrence will indicate a new infection.

βλάβη χωρίς να επηρεάζει τους γύρω ιστούς του δέρματος και δεν αφήνει σημάδια. Συχνά, χρειάζονται επαναλήψεις για να απαλλαγούμε από τον ιό. Παρ’ όλα αυτά ο ιός της μολυσματικής τερμίνθου εκριζώνεται οριστικά μετά από συστηματική κ ολοκληρωμένη θεραπεία και τυχόν επανεμφάνιση του στο μέλλον θα σημαίνει νέα μόλυνση.