Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin disorder in children and young adults, accounting for 10% to 15% of all dermatology visits.
The causative viruses are molluscum contagiosum viruses of the genus Poxvirus, of which humans are the only natural hosts.
Molluscum contagiosum is mainly transmitted by contact. The incubation period varies from 14-50 days, the dormitories of childcare institutions, swimming pools are the more common occasions of infection; in addition to self-inoculation, weeks to months after the disease, the warts can develop from one to several, dozens or even hundreds of. It can occur on any part of the body, and the mucous membranes can also be involved. They begin as rice-sized hemispherical papules on the skin, scattered or fused, and gradually increase to the size of a green bean or even a pea. The center of the typical lesion may be slightly concave or umbilical fossa-shaped, and may be skin colored or yellowish.
The infectious molluscum contagiosum is usually asymptomatic, but some children complain of itching, and when they scratch vigorously, it can cause a local skin infection and a red, swollen, and painful appearance similar to a boil.
The most convenient way to treat infectious molluscum contagiosum is by picking and squeezing.