Molluscum Contagiosum in Children

What is Molluscum Contagiosum in Children

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection that can cause a rash. This infection is common among children.

The rash may go away on its own, or your child may need to have a procedure or use medicine to treat the rash.

What are the causes?

This condition is caused by a virus. The virus can spread from person to person (is contagious). It can spread through:

  • Skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
  • Contact with an object that has the virus on it (contaminated object), such as a towel or clothing.

What increases the risk?

Your child is more likely to develop this condition if he or she:

  • Is 1‒10 years old.
  • Lives in an area where the weather is moist and warm.
  • Takes part in close-contact sports, such as wrestling.
  • Takes part in sports that use a mat, such as gymnastics.

What are the signs or symptoms?

The main symptom of this condition is a painless rash that appears 2–7 weeks after exposure to the virus. The rash is made up of small, dome-shaped bumps on the skin. The bumps may:

  • Affect the face, abdomen, arms, or legs.
  • Be pink or flesh-colored.
  • Appear one by one or in groups.
  • Range from the size of a pinhead to the size of a pencil eraser.
  • Feel firm, smooth, and waxy.
  • Have a pit in the middle.
  • Itch. For most children, the rash does not itch.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

  • Your child’s symptoms and medical history.
  • A physical exam.
  • Scraping the bumps to collect a skin sample for testing.

How is this treated?

The rash will usually go away within 2 months, but it can sometimes take 6–12 months for it to clear completely. The rash may go away on its own, without treatment. However, children often need treatment to keep the virus from infecting other people or to keep the rash from spreading to other parts of their body. Treatment may also be done if your child has anxiety or stress because of the way the rash looks.

Treatment may include:

  • Surgery to remove the bumps by freezing them (cryosurgery).
  • A procedure to scrape off the bumps (curettage).
  • A procedure to remove the bumps with a laser.
  • Putting medicine on the bumps (topical treatment).

Follow these instructions at home:

General instructions

  • Give or apply over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
  • Do not give your child aspirin because of the association with Reye syndrome.
  • Remind your child not to scratch or pick at the bumps. Scratching or picking can cause the rash to spread to other parts of your child’s body.

Preventing infection

As long as your child has bumps on his or her skin, the infection can spread to other people. To prevent this from happening:

  • Do not let your child share clothing, towels, or toys with others until the bumps go away.
  • Do not let your child use a public swimming pool, sauna, or shower until the bumps go away.
  • Have your child avoid close contact with others until the bumps go away.
  • Make sure you, your child, and other family members wash their hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Cover the bumps on your child’s body with clothing or a bandage whenever your child might have contact with others.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • The bumps are spreading.
  • The bumps are becoming red and sore.
  • The bumps have not gone away after 12 months.

Get help right away if:

  • Your child who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher.

Summary

  • Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection that can cause a rash made up of small, dome-shaped bumps.
  • The infection is caused by a virus.
  • The rash will usually go away within 2 months, but it can sometimes take 6–12 months for it to clear completely.
  • Treatment is sometimes recommended to keep the virus from infecting other people or to keep the rash from spreading to other parts of your child’s body.
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