It is more common in children between the ages of one and ten years old. The condition has become more common in the United States since 1966. But having an infection is not a reason to keep a child out of school or daycare. Signs and symptoms
Molluscum contagiosum lesions are flesh-colored, dome-shaped, and pearly in appearance. They are often 1–5 mm in diameter, with a dimpled center. Molluscum lesions are most commonly found on the face, arms, legs, torso, and armpits in children. Adults typically have molluscum lesions in the genital region and this is considered to be a sexually transmitted infection; because of this, if genital lesions are found on a child, sexual abuse should be suspected. These lesions are generally not painful, but they may itch or become irritated. Picking or scratching the bumps may lead to a spread of the viral infection responsible for molluscum contagiosum, an additional bacterial infection, and scarring. In some cases, eczema develops around the lesions.Individual molluscum lesions may go away on their own within two months and generally clear completely without treatment or scarring in six to twelve months. Mean durations for an outbreak are variously reported from eight to about 18 months, but durations are reported as widely as six months to five years, lasting longer in immunosuppressed individuals. Transmission
As the name implies, molluscum contagiosum is extremely contagious.
When treatment has resulted in the elimination of all bumps, the infection has been effectively cured and will not reappear unless the person is reinfected. Medications
For mild cases, over-the-counter wart medicines, such as salicylic acid may shorten infection duration. Daily topical application of tretinoin cream may also trigger resolution.Studies have found cantharidin to be an effective and safe treatment for removing molluscum contagiosum. This medication is usually well tolerated though mild side effects such as pain or blistering are common. There is no high-quality evidence for cimetidine. However, oral cimetidine has been used as an alternative treatment for the pediatric population as it is generally well tolerated and less invasive. Imiquimod
Imiquimod is a form of immunotherapy initially proposed as a treatment for molluscum based on promising results in small case series and clinical trials. However, two large randomized controlled trials, specifically requested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act both demonstrated that imiquimod cream applied three times per week was no more effective than placebo cream for treating molluscum after 18 weeks of treatment in a total of 702 children aged 2–12 years. In 2007, results from those trials—which remain unpublished—were incorporated into FDA-approved prescribing information for imiquimod, which states: "Limitations of Use: Efficacy was not demonstrated for molluscum contagiosum in children aged 2–12." In 2007, the FDA also updated imiquimods label concerning safety issues raised in the two large trials and an FDA-requested pharmacokinetic study (the latter of which was published).