Continental mollusk. What is molluscum contagiosum? Causes and treatment in adults using modern methods

There are many different viral diseases known, and when strange rashes appear on the skin, you can’t immediately determine what it is? Especially when smooth nodules up to 3 mm in diameter suddenly appear on the outside of the genitals, pubis or perineum. But this is molluscum contagiosum, which quickly spreads throughout the body in case of weakened immunity.

What is molluscum contagiosum?

is a viral disease that affects only humans. It is more common in children who become infected at home.

But recently it is increasingly affecting men and women who become infected through sexual contact. Infection through sexual contact leads to the appearance of papules in the form of granular pink snails in the groin area and on the genitals, causing a lot of inconvenience to those infected.

Molluscum contagiosum in women

Molluscum is contagious. In appearance it is very similar to other skin diseases. Therefore, if bumps appear on the body, you should not hesitate to visit a dermatologist for differential diagnosis. Most often, women catch the infection, often during pregnancy from their partner against the background of unstable immunity and hormonal changes.

The virus first goes through a 2-week incubation period. Then it quickly begins to progress. If you pick off a nodule with a blunt object, a cheesy mass will flow out, which is precisely the source of infection. Women need to be extremely careful. Even if there is itching, try not to scratch the affected areas and consult a doctor for treatment.

This infectious disease is contagious. Usually does not cause concern if the immune system copes. But with a decrease in immunity, a burning sensation may appear. Possible addition of syphilis, papillomavirus and other infections.

Ways of infection with molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is transmitted:

• sexually;
• through everyday life (often in children) when a healthy person comes into contact with an infected person through a handshake, the use of household items, toys.

Molluscum is often accompanied by other sexually transmitted infections.

Symptoms of molluscum contagiosum infection in women

The main symptoms include:

• the appearance of erythema, nodules in the lower abdomen, in the groin, pubis, and inner thighs;
• the spread of pink to dark spots throughout the body, on the face and legs with the development of a generalized form of molluscum contagiosum as a consequence of immunodeficiency in patients.

Pregnant women are not protected from this virus due to weak immunity. The mollusk itself is not dangerous to the fetus, since it cannot penetrate the placental barrier. But infection of children during breastfeeding or passing through the birth canal is possible.

Usually, a rash on the body appears 2-3 weeks after infection, although sometimes the virus may not manifest itself in any way for up to several months with stable immunity. Activation of the disease occurs when the body weakens.

It is possible that only a single specific nodule may appear, with a gradual increase in their number, spreading to different parts of the body upon contact with hands or clothing. The virus quickly settles in healthy areas of the body.

When infected through sexual contact, the rashes are localized on the genitals, lower abdomen, inner thighs, and groin area. As it develops and spreads, molluscum contagiosum can be found on the soles, palms of the hands, and oral mucosa.

You may be interested in another disease in the intimate sphere -.

Molluscum contagiosum is differentiated from warts, keratoacanthoma, epithelioma, and lichen planus.

Diagnostics

Experts quickly diagnose this disease based on specific symptoms.

A step-by-step differential diagnosis is carried out, first of all studying:

• patient's medical history;
• visual examination of the skin;
• identifying symptoms typical of molluscum contagiosum;
• conducting a histological examination for the presence of the virus.

The symptoms of molluscum are similar to lichen ruber, so only differential diagnosis will allow the doctor to establish the true cause of the disease and the final diagnosis.

Treatment of molluscum contagiosum at home

Molluscum contagiosum is treated with medications, creams or ointments, such as:

• acyclovir,
• cycloferon,
• isoprinosine,
• epigen-intim (in the form of cream, ointment),
• Viferon,
• Velaxin,
• oxolinic ointment,
• silver nitrate solution.

Epithelioma is contagious, molluscum epithelium, molluscum warty - this is how molluscum contaginosa, which belongs to the category of viral diseases and is benign in nature, can be called in medicine. The symptoms of this disease are usually pronounced, diagnosis is not difficult for a specialist, and treatment can be carried out using both official medicine and folk remedies.

Routes of infection

It should be taken into account that the threat is posed not only by an already infected person, but also by household items, towels, bedding, clothing, and toys. Moreover, the DNA-containing molluscum contagiosum virus affects people of different age groups. The most widespread spread of the disease in question is recorded in childhood, if the child attends educational institutions - kindergartens, schools and any children's groups, in which even an outbreak of an epidemic of molluscum contagiosum may occur.

If the localization of rashes for the disease in question in adults is in the genital area, then the sexual route of infection is quite possible.

The incubation period of the disease in question is variable and can last from 2 weeks to 6 months. As a rule, during this period an already infected person does not notice any changes in his health.

After the incubation period, characteristic rashes appear on the skin - this will be the first and, perhaps, the only pronounced symptom of molluscum contagiosum. Characteristic features of such rashes:

• have the appearance of hemispherical nodes;
• the size of each papule correlates with the size of the pinhead;
• the surface of the papules is shiny and smooth;
• The consistency of the rash is dense, the color is yellowish-pink or flesh-colored.

As the disease in question develops, the rash changes its appearance:

• the size of the papules increases and can reach the size of a pea;
• a depression forms in the center of the papule;
• when pressing on the papules, a whitish mass of semi-liquid consistency is released from the recess.

It is extremely rare for molluscum contagiosum rashes to merge, resulting in the formation of spots with a diameter of 2-3 cm.

Note:no deterioration in health in the form of increased body temperature, itching and burning of the skin, weakness or headache is noted, even with extensive rashes.

Molluscum contagiosum rashes are localized most often in the forehead, neck and eyelids, and can occur on the back of the hands, external genitalia, and inner thighs. It is extremely rare for doctors to record rashes on the feet (soles) and palms.

Very often, rashes on the body are mistaken for chickenpox or warts - the doctor must differentiate these pathologies, after which it will be possible to begin treatment for molluscum contagiosum.

You can diagnose the disease in question yourself; at least in childhood, parents can see for themselves that it is absent. To do this, you need to press on the edges of the papule and examine the discharge from the cavity - with molluscum contagiosum they always have a dense white color and a semi-liquid consistency.

It is noteworthy that most often molluscum contagiosum develops in cases of reduced immunity - a specialist will definitely prescribe a full examination of the patient in order to identify the main cause of such a disturbance in the functioning of the immune system.

In most cases, the rash disappears on its own within 3-8 months. That is why doctors most often do not prescribe any medications if the patient’s general health condition allows. Surgical removal of papules is often performed:

• Several punctures are made on the surface of the papule;
• Use a sharp curette to scrape out the entire contents of the papule;
• the papule is treated with iodine;
• for 2-3 weeks, the area of ​​the removed papule should be wiped daily with camphor alcohol.

Note:even if surgical removal of plural papules was performed, no scars remain after healing.

By the way, doctors even allow patients to remove papules at home. The only condition is compliance with absolute sterility. In no case should an infection be allowed to enter an opened papule - a worsening of the condition and the development of a purulent inflammatory process cannot be avoided.

In addition to curettage of each papule, doctors may suggest that the patient undergo a more modern treatment - laser therapy. The benefits of this treatment are as follows:

Laser treatment is performed on an outpatient basis, does not require hospitalization and requires a course of treatment to remove all nodules.

As for cryodestruction, it is worth mentioning the following features of the procedure:

• liquid nitrogen directly affects the causative agent of molluscum contagiosum;
• the papule and all contaminated areas are frozen - the spread of rashes is prevented;
• no injuries are caused to the skin during the procedure;
• After treatment, scars do not form at the site of the papules.

Cryodestruction does not imply registration of the patient in a medical institution - the procedures are carried out on an outpatient basis. In addition, there will be no changes in the patient’s usual rhythm of life.

Note:Surgical removal of papules for molluscum contagiosum is not a very painful procedure, but the sensations are completely unpleasant. Therefore, cryodestruction and laser therapy can be an excellent method of treating the disease in question in childhood.

General therapy

As part of the treatment of molluscum contagiosum, a specialist may prescribe various medications. The choice of specific medications depends on several factors: how long the disease lasts, the state of general health, the patient’s age, and others.

As a rule, all patients diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum are prescribed a course of immunostrengthening drugs, and antiviral agents can be selected.

Note:In no case should you make your own choice of medications - this should be done by a doctor after examining the patient.

Treatment of molluscum contagiosum with folk remedies

There are several folk recipes that will help you quickly get rid of rashes for the disease in question. But their use must be agreed upon with the attending physician - and the diagnosis must be made correctly, and examinations must be carried out.

The most effective means for treating the disease in question from the category of “traditional medicine”:

1. Grind a few cloves of garlic (in a blender or on a fine grater), add 30-50 grams of butter (soft) to them and mix everything thoroughly until a paste-like mixture is obtained. The product must be applied to the affected areas of the skin 2 times a day. Please note that garlic can cause burning and even irritation on healthy areas of the skin, so try to use this product with extreme caution.
2. The string grass is crushed and a decoction is made - 300 ml of water per 100 grams of raw material, cook for 3 minutes. Then the broth should brew for 60-90 minutes. Only after this can you strain it through a strainer or several layers of gauze. A decoction of the string is used as a lotion and for wiping off papules. There are no restrictions on the number of procedures per day.
3. Prepare a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate - it should be dark purple. A cotton swab is moistened in it and applied (cauterized) to the papule. Please note that after using potassium permanganate, burns may form on the skin - be extremely careful, treat the papule specifically, acting on it point by point.

You can also use some plants that will help get rid of papules in a short time. For example, the juice from bird cherry leaves copes with this task perfectly (it is squeezed out and stored in a cool, dark place) - a cotton pad is moistened in it and the skin is treated after removing the nodules. Moreover, this remedy can be used for a long period, until all wounds are completely healed.

It is often recommended to use celandine juice to treat molluscum contagiosum - it really burns papules very well and helps to quickly get rid of the characteristic rashes. But you need to know that celandine juice is a toxic substance - if it is used ineptly, treatment will bring additional suffering to the patient. To prevent this from happening, it is worth remembering the following three rules:

• You must first make sure that the patient does not have allergies;
• apply celandine juice pointwise to a specific papule;
• carry out the procedure with gloves.

You can prepare celandine juice yourself, or you can purchase an alcohol tincture from this plant at the pharmacy - this would probably be a reasonable decision.

The collection of medicinal plants is also considered quite effective - it includes yarrow grass, calendula flowers, juniper berries, birch buds, eucalyptus leaves and pine buds. To prepare the mixture, you need to take 3 tablespoons of each component and mix everything thoroughly. Now you need to take a tablespoon of the prepared mixture, pour 300 ml of boiling water and leave for 20-30 minutes. Use a herbal decoction to wipe the rashes and take 100 ml orally in the morning and evening.

Features of treatment of molluscum contagiosum on the genitals

If characteristic rashes appear in the area of ​​the external genitalia, then it is necessary to undergo specific treatment. First, the doctor will need to find out if there is any sexually transmitted infection. Secondly, there is no question of any surgical intervention. Thirdly, it is most appropriate to choose laser therapy or cryodestruction for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum localized on the external genitalia.

Regarding traditional medicine, in this case, only one recommendation can be given - carry out hygienic procedures (washing) using a decoction of string or herbal tea, the recipes for which are listed above.

You will receive more detailed information about molluscum contagiosum in children by watching a short video review by Dr. Komarovsky:

Prevention of molluscum contagiosum

To prevent infection or spread of the disease in question, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. After visiting a bathhouse, sauna, swimming pool, or gym, carefully monitor the condition of the skin, and if any papules appear, immediately seek help from a doctor.
2. Avoid contact with people who have already been diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum. If this happens in a family, then the patient must be given a separate towel and provided with personal hygiene items, dishes, and bed linen.
3. Avoid promiscuous (casual) sexual intercourse.
4. Monitor your own immune system and, if necessary, take a course of vitamin therapy.

Molluscum contagiosum is a rather dangerous disease and requires close attention from medical professionals. You should not look for recipes on your own, or consult with grandmothers and friends - treatment for molluscum contagiosum is long-term, therefore, the sooner a diagnosis is made and professional treatment is prescribed, the sooner the patient will become completely healthy.

Firstly, this is an infection that is chronic. Causing damage to the skin, the infection can persist from several months to several years, but most often, the rash can be noticed from six months to nine months.

Secondly, contagious dermatosis is a purely human disease, no animals can tolerate it, and infection occurs from contact (hence the name) of an already infected person with a healthy person.

Thirdly, the causative agent is a virus that belongs to the smallpox viruses. Virus reproduction occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. The shape is oval or rectangular.

1. By touching their skin, sexual partners transmit the disease to each other, but sexual intercourse itself is not a route of infection, so in many countries molluscum contagiosum is not considered a sexually transmitted infection. In this situation, the area of ​​infection is localized on the inner thighs, groin, and abdomen.
2. The second route of infection is household. By using the things of a sick person, you can get infected, but in this case there will be no local rashes, and the rash can appear anywhere, mainly it appears on the hands and face.
3. Children's groups. The determining factor here is crowding and close contacts, which in turn can lead to an epidemic.

Symptoms of molluscum contagiosum

After infection, the incubation period can last from two weeks to a couple of months, and identifying the source of infection is sometimes problematic. After clinical manifestations appear in the form of single spherical vesicles, without compaction or skin changes, a gradual process of self-infection begins. The number of bubbles increases, and they increase in size, from a small millet grain to a medium pea. As the disease progresses, the blisters may coalesce to form giant hemispherical papules with a depression in the center. It is the papules that are the main sign of the disease, and their location indicates the place where the infection occurred. In adults - the genital area, abdomen, inner thighs. In children - limbs, face, torso. Papules are characterized by:

1. Dense, flesh-colored, hemispherical in shape and small in size;
2. The core is white, waxy;
3. Over time, the papules soften.

After the first stage of infection and the appearance of the first bubbles, the second stage begins, when self-infection constantly occurs through the hands, so the bubbles cover most of the body in a chaotic manner, and their number can be in the hundreds. Constant scratching increases the number of rashes. By accidentally touching or damaging a vesicle, a whitish, porridge-like mass is observed, consisting of lymphocytes and keratinized cells, in the form of mollusc bodies, which is where the name comes from.

Existing symptoms of an atypical form of molluscum contagiosum may not show the concave shape of the nodules, and the nodules themselves are very small. The profuse form of the disease is usually observed in children suffering from leukemia, atopic dermatitis, immunodeficiency and HIV.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of the disease is made possible by laboratory data and the clinical picture of the disease. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, studies of the contents of the nodules are performed. Molluscum contagiosum must be differentiated from warts, basal cell carcinoma, chickenpox, syringoma, pustular syphilis, hydrocystoma, and keratoacanthoma.

Treatment

Cutaneous molluscum, as a rule, is not treated. It will take a healthy body about six months to overcome the infection. This is what dermatovenerologists focus on so as not to overload the body with medications. But to speed up recovery, the following treatment methods are used, which are selected individually for each patient:

1. Cauterization or diathermocoagulation.
2. Scraping or squeezing out nodules with iodine treatment.
3. The use of antiviral ointments.
4. Excessive rash and drainage of blisters requires treatment with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment at home is dangerous

Treatment of molluscum on the skin without an established diagnosis and at home is dangerous and this is called:

1. There is a danger of missing a serious skin disease, such as malignant or benign neoplasms on the skin;
2. Certain forms of molluscum contagiosum occur together with AIDS, so in such cases special forms of treatment are required.

Molluscum contagiosum, as a virus that has DNA, causes difficulties in treatment. The level of medicine today does not make it possible to completely get rid of the disease. But it is quite possible to avoid relapses, despite the fact that this disease has a chronic course. To do this, it is necessary to regularly see a doctor and carry out constant therapy, which consists of a general strengthening of the immune system. With the right approach to treatment, it is possible to achieve stable remission and a favorable prognosis.

Prevention

Prevention of molluscum contagiosum consists mainly of excluding the cause of the disease.:

• Personal hygiene and home hygiene. When the first symptoms appear, contact with the patient should be limited, personal hygiene items should be allocated, and underwear and bed linen should be changed daily.
• Visiting baths, saunas and swimming pools. After visiting public baths and swimming pools, it is imperative to carefully monitor the condition of your skin, and at the first suspicion, immediately consult a doctor!
• School and preschool institutions. Kindergartens are especially dangerous in the sense that the spread of cutaneous molluscum in children's groups occurs very quickly, covering almost the entire group. Therefore, the baby should be examined regularly.
• Pickiness in sexual relations.

– a chronic highly contagious skin disease, the causative agent of molluscum contagiosum is part of the smallpox group of viruses – Molluscipoxvirus. According to the international classification of diseases, molluscum contagiosum does not belong to venereological diseases, however, WHO includes molluscum contagiosum in the list of sexually transmitted infections. Persons of both sexes are susceptible to infection, regardless of age groups, but people who are promiscuous in sexual contacts and children are at risk.

Pathogenesis of molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a benign skin tumor; DNA virus synthesis occurs in the keratinocytes of the epidermis; after the virus multiplies in the host cells, the activity of T-lymphocytes is blocked, and therefore immune cells are absent when damaged, which explains immune tolerance, which favors the pathogen during infection.

Routes of infection and pathogenesis of molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a disease that affects only humans. Infection occurs through direct contact of a sick person with a healthy person, but there is an indirect route of infection - through contaminated objects.

Adults are mainly infected with molluscum contagiosum through sexual contact; infection occurs through contact of the skin of partners, and not through coitus, which is why some international medical organizations do not classify molluscum contagiosum as a sexually transmitted infection. The affected area during sexual intercourse is usually the perineum, inner thighs, lower abdomen, and external genitalia.

When infected through domestic means, there is no specific localization of molluscum contagiosum; neoplasms can be found on any area of ​​the skin. The presence of damage and microtrauma to the skin is a favorable condition for inoculation of the virus. Cases of infection are usually isolated, despite the highly contagious nature of the mollusk, but in kindergartens the lesions can be endemic.

Factors such as crowding, skin contact, and humid atmosphere favor dissemination. The incubation period for molluscum contagiosum ranges from several weeks to several months, so it can be difficult to determine the source of infection. After the appearance of clinical manifestations, molluscum contagiosum spreads throughout the body through self-infection. Cellular immune deficiencies, congenital and acquired, contribute to infection; in people with HIV infection, the incidence of molluscum contagiosum is several times higher.

Since the causative agent of molluscum contagiosum is a DNA virus, it is impossible to achieve a complete cure, however, modern methods of treatment make it possible to achieve long-term and stable remission.

Clinical manifestations of molluscum contagiosum

After the incubation period, single, painless, dense, round-shaped nodules appear on the skin; the color of the skin affected by molluscum contagiosum is usually unchanged or acquires a pink tint; sometimes a waxy or pearlescent sheen may be noted. Next, the number of elements of molluscum contagiosum increases due to self-infection. The sizes of the rashes range from millet grains to peas; sometimes, when the elements merge, giant molluscum contagiosum can form; they look like hemispherical papules with a sunken central part.

The nodules are located everywhere on the body, but since at the second stage of development of molluscum contagiosum self-infection occurs through the hands, the areas of the skin that are most often touched are affected. This is the face, neck, upper torso and the hands themselves. Molluscum contagiosum rashes are chaotic, and their number sometimes reaches several hundred; rubbing of hands and involuntary scratching increase the number of disseminations.

When pressed with tweezers or accidentally damaged by molluscum contagiosum, a white mushy mass is released from it, which consists of keratinized cells and lymphocytes. But it also contains inclusions of mollusc-shaped bodies, which is how the disease got its name. There are no subjective sensations, but some patients with molluscum contagiosum note itching and slight infiltration, which occurs when a secondary infection occurs.

With atypical forms of molluscum contagiosum, the characteristic concave center on the rash may not be, and the elements themselves may be very small in size. Profuse forms of molluscum contagiosum are diagnosed in children with atopic dermatitis, in children with leukemia and immunodeficiencies, as well as in HIV-positive patients. As a rule, the course of molluscum contagiosum passes without complications; aseptic and purulent abscesses of the skin around the affected area are possible. In very rare cases, superinfection occurs, which leaves scars.

Diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum

Treatment of molluscum contagiosum

Surgical removal using curettage after preliminary local anesthesia under a film gives a good effect, since a large number of molluscum contagiosum can be removed in one session due to the almost complete absence of pain during the procedure. Usually one session is performed per month, and complete clinical recovery occurs within a few months. With this method of treatment, no nodule contents remain, trauma to the skin is minimal, and after curettage, in some cases, electrocoagulation of the affected areas is indicated.

Removal of skin formations of molluscum contagiosum is possible by cryodestruction or radio wave method. Laser removal is also used. If there are few molluscum contagiosum rashes, then chemotherapy drugs have a good effect, but long-term use is not recommended due to their irritating effect on the skin. With minor dissemination, UV irradiation of the affected skin with therapeutic ultraviolet light and the use of creams with acyclovir are indicated for all patients with molluscum contagiosum.

The method of applying Tuberculin to the area affected by molluscum contagiosum is especially often used in pediatric dermatology, as it is painless. This technique is new, and therefore there are no accurate statistical data on its effectiveness. But children must be previously vaccinated with BCG or isoprinosine.

Prevention and prognosis

In most cases, the prognosis for infection with molluscum contagiosum is favorable, with the exception of patients with immunodeficiency conditions. Prevention consists of maintaining personal hygiene both in public places and at home. It is necessary that each family member has his own washcloth and other bath accessories. When molluscum contagiosum is diagnosed in children, infected children are isolated and quarantined for the duration of the incubation period with a daily preventive examination of the entire children's team and service personnel.

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin disease in the form of multiple round rashes with a depression in the center. Mostly children are affected. Most often does not require treatment. It goes away on its own.
ICD 10 code: B08.1 - Molluscum contagiosum

Synonyms: epithelial molluscum, smallpox-like acne of Bazin, contagious epithelioma of Neisser, warty molluscum, candida molluscum (erroneous name), sebaceous mollusc of Hebra.

Treatment: see a dermatologist.

Cause and mechanism of infection

The cause of molluscum contagiosum is a virus from the smallpox group, from the poxvirus family. In the international taxonomy of viruses it is called Molluscum contagiosum virus: link.

• Only a person is sick. Animals don't get sick!
• Scientists have discovered several types of molluscum contagiosum virus.
• The source of the virus is the patient’s skin lesions.
• The virus is stable in the external environment.
• The virus is transmitted by contact from a sick person (which is often in children's groups). Infection can also occur when using hygiene items or clothing of a sick person, in a pool, in a bathhouse, on the beach, etc.
• The incubation period (the period from infection to the appearance of symptoms on the skin) is from 2 weeks to 6 months.
• Predisposing factor to the disease: decreased general and/or local immunity in the skin. In HIV patients, molluscum contagiosum occurs very often (up to 15% of patients with HIV infection).
• Through microtraumas of the skin and scratching, the virus penetrates the surface cells of the skin epithelium (epidermal cells), integrates into them and begins to multiply. At the same time, the activity of immune cells in human skin is suppressed for a certain time, which also leads to the rapid development of the virus.
• Mostly children and adolescents are affected.
• In adults, when a mollusk appears on the body, one should look for the cause of a decrease in local or general immunity. This could be diabetes mellitus or atopic dermatitis. This could be chemotherapy for blood cancer (leukemia) or HIV infection. This may include aggressive antibiotic therapy or the use of corticosteroid ointments.
• After treatment, the virus is no longer in the human body. Immunity to it is unstable. Therefore, after a few years a person can become infected again.

Why “contagious” and why “mollusc”?

Because under a microscope, the contents squeezed out of the skin formation look like a mollusk.
And “contagious” means contagious.

Symptoms and clinic

1) The main symptom of molluscum contagiosum: the appearance of many round formations on the skin.
These formations (papules) range from 1 to 5 mm in size, spherical in shape with a depressed center. Also called umbilical (from the word navel) or crater-shaped depression. Small formations in the initial stage do not yet have a depressed center and look like ordinary ulcers (see photo).

In the photo: this is what molluscum contagiosum looks like

2) Itching almost never occurs. There is no pain either.

3) Localization - the whole body: facial skin, neck, torso, limbs. During the sexual route of infection - around the genitals, on the pubis, on the thighs. Never occurs on the skin of the palms and soles of the feet.

4) The number of papules – from several pieces to several hundred.

5) When you press on the papule, a thick liquid and a cheesy mass in the center are released.

Attention: There should be no general reaction - no fever, no headache, no weakness.

6) Atypical types of mollusks often appear, that is, unlike the classical form of formation:

Diagnostics

In the classic form, the diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum is easy to make. The following factors are taken into account: childhood age, the presence of children with molluscum in the team, multiple spherical formations on the skin with an umbilical depression.

Difficulties in diagnosis rarely arise with atypical forms. But even with atypical appearances, dermatoscopy clearly shows umbilical depressions in the center of the molluscan papules.

This is what a mollusk looks like under dermatoscopy

In difficult cases, the doctor resorts to squeezing the papule with tweezers. If crumbly masses are squeezed out of the papule, with a 99% probability it is molluscum contagiosum.

In even rarer cases, they resort to diagnosis under a microscope. To do this, the crumb-like masses are sent to the laboratory, where a picture corresponding to the given disease is determined under a microscope. In this case, eosinophilic inclusions are found in the cytoplasm of the cells.

Differential diagnosis Molluscum contagiosum is carried out with diseases:

• pyoderma (ulcers on the skin),
• chickenpox (chickenpox),
• filamentous papillomas (),
• vulgar warts (),
• genital warts on the genitals (),
• milia.

Molluscum contagiosum in adults - features

1) Both women and men get sick equally often.

2) It is imperative to find out the predisposing factor to its appearance in adults. Why did he appear?

3) In adults, the most common location of molluscum contagiosum is the genitals and groin area.
In women: on the pubis and labia. In men - on the penis and pubis. In this case, it has similarities both with the initial stage of genital warts and with pustular diseases in the genital area. This arrangement is due to sexual transmission.

4) In treatment, it is necessary to correct the general disease, which led to a decrease in immunity and activation of the virus:

• treatment of diabetes mellitus,
• correction of dysbacteriosis,
• correction of drugs that suppress the immune system (cytostatics, corticosteroids, including locally in the form of ointments)
  treatment of HIV infection.

5) It is quite possible that a child caught a mollusk in kindergarten, and then the adults got sick. All family members must be examined at once.

6) Treatment of pregnant women with molluscum contagiosum differs from other women: you should stop using antiviral and immune drugs, and do not use cauterizing agents such as supercelandine. The only treatment method for pregnant women is removal of molluscum papules.

Molluscum contagiosum in children

Children under 10 years of age are most often affected. During this period, the child actively interacts with the outside world, and the immune system becomes familiar with many bacteria and viruses. During this same period, warts first appear in children; during this period, children suffer from childhood infections.

Is it necessary to treat molluscum contagiosum in children and how?

Only in cases of obvious cosmetic defects and complications. Treatment methods are described below.
Formations on the face should be removed with an instrument with extreme caution so as not to subsequently lead to the formation of scars.

Treatment in children and adults

In children and most adults, without treatment, the symptoms of molluscum contagiosum go away on their own as soon as antiviral immunity is formed. Term - in 4-6 months, sometimes 1-2 years.

Molluscs on the body can only be treated for medical reasons: trauma, inflammation. Cosmetic indications are solely at the request of the patient.

Directions for treatment of molluscum contagiosum:

1) Removal of formations

2) Local treatment

3) General treatment

4) Treatment of complications (inflammation, allergies, skin ulcerations)

Removal of cutaneous molluscum

According to reviews of most dermatologists, removal of skin rashes is so far the most effective method of treating cutaneous molluscum.

1) Removal with tweezers or a surgical spoon (curette)

• First, the doctor performs local anesthesia of the skin with Emla cream or another surface anesthetic.
• The doctor squeezes the jaws of the tweezers and squeezes out the contents of the papule (as in the video below). If necessary, the resulting small cavity can also be scraped out with tweezers or peeled out with a curette (a sharp Volkmann spoon).
  If the papules are small, then no curettage will be needed.
• After this, the doctor carefully removes the curdled masses and cauterizes the resulting wound with 3% hydrogen peroxide and tincture of iodine.
• Some patients at home perform an independent opening of the molluscum papules with a needle, as in this video.
  We remind you: it is not recommended to do this yourself. By wiping the skin with a napkin, thereby spreading and rubbing viruses into neighboring areas of the skin, you only spread the infection even further.
• After removing the mollusk, the wound should be treated with iodine or brilliant green once a day for another 3 days.
• With proper removal of the elements of molluscum contagiosum, no scars remain on the skin.

2) Electrocoagulation

The doctor cauterizes the papule with an electrocoagulator (electric knife). Subsequently, after such treatment, scars may remain.

3) Liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction) -

The doctor burns the papule with liquid nitrogen. Cells with the virus freeze and die. When cryodestruction is carried out correctly, there are no scars left on the skin. But the procedure can be painful.

4) Laser -

The doctor evaporates the mollusk papule with a laser beam. There are also no scars left.

Local treatment

Antiviral creams and ointments are used:

• viferon ointment,
• 3% oxolinic ointment,
• 1% gel viru-merz serol,
• Infagel,
• Acyclovir ointment,
• Virolex ointment,
• Gripferon spray.

General treatment

Stimulation of general immunity and antiviral drugs.

• isoprinosine tablets ()
• Viferon in candles,
• polyoxidonium in candles,
• anaferon for children in tablets,
• other interferon drugs.

Treatment of complications

A complex of medications is used to relieve complications:

• antibiotic ointments - to treat bacterial inflammation,
• antihistamines to reduce allergic skin reactions.

Traditional methods at home

Folk remedies against molluscum contagiosum are ineffective. Therefore, they cannot be recommended by a dermatologist for the treatment of this disease in either children or adults.

Remember: The cause of molluscum is a virus, the predisposing factor is decreased immunity.
Therefore, among traditional methods, you should use general immunity-strengthening techniques and antiviral agents.

1) Increasing immunity using natural methods.

2) Antiviral plants.

• Garlic.
  Crush a clove of garlic in a garlic press and place on the papules for a few minutes. There will be a slight burning sensation.
  Apply 3-4 times a day also during the entire period of the rash.
  You don’t have to apply it, but simply lubricate the skin.
• Lubricating papules with a solution of potassium permanganate, fucorcin, an alcohol solution of iodine or brilliant green.
  This is an ineffective method, since such antiseptics have practically no effect on the molluscum contagiosum virus. The only use of such solutions is to lubricate wounds at home after removing mollusks with tweezers or a curette.
• Celandine. Celandine juice is poisonous and has antiviral and antitumor effects.
  Clams are lubricated with celandine juice 3-4 times a day throughout the entire period of skin rashes.
• Lubricating papules with juice from bird cherry leaves, infusion of string, calendula - these folk remedies have a very weak effect.
• Super celandine, molustin and molutrex.
  A lotion called Molyustin is sold in Russia. The drug is not a medicine. This is a mixture of plant extracts + potassium lye. Causes a chemical burn to the skin, as a result of which the mollusk papules die. The effectiveness against molluscum contagiosum is low.

  MOLUTREX is a French analogue of molustin. In fact, MOLUTREX is pure potassium hydroxide, without additives, that is, caustic alkali, the French analogue of Supercleaner. Causes chemical burns to the skin. Does not work on viruses.

  Super celandine is a completely different drug than the herb celandine. This is a set of alkalis. Leads to a chemical burn of the skin, as a result of which the mollusk papules die off.

  When treating at home with supercelandine, molutrex and molustin, you should be extremely careful not to cause deep skin burns and subsequent scar formation. You cannot use cauterizing drugs to remove molluscs on the face, labia in women and penis in men.

Prevention

The main thing that should be applied constantly is the prevention of molluscum contagiosum.

• strengthening the immune system using natural methods,
• You can’t take a hot bath - you can only shower,
• You can’t rub your body with a washcloth - only soap yourself with your hands,
• You can’t rub your body with a towel - just blot it,
• You should not open skin papules yourself, so as not to spread the infection to other areas of the skin,
• a patient with molluscs on the body should be provided with separate personal hygiene items and bedding. Wash his clothes separately. Steam the laundry thoroughly with an iron,
• Always use only personal hygiene items!

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