skin disorders
Molluscum Contagiosum
Introduction
Molluscum contagiosum is a contagious skin infection caused by a poxvirus that causes pink or white, dome-shaped, and smooth or waxy bumps to form. This infection is caused by a poxvirus. The bumps can appear on many parts of the body and usually are not itchy or painful. The diagnosis is typically based on the appearance of the bumps. Bumps that do not go away by themselves can be treated with creams or can be removed by freezing, burning, and/or cutting. The virus that causes molluscum is contagious. It spreads by direct physical contact with an infected person or with objects such as towels or sponges that have been touched by an infected person. Molluscum contagiosum also can spread from one person to another by sexual contact. The virus can spread in water, such as in pools, baths, or saunas. Infection may cover larger areas of skin, and bumps tend to be larger in people who have a weakened immune system such as those with HIV/AIDS or who use corticosteroids or receive cancer chemotherapy. This infection is common among children. 