Diseases

Molluscum contagiosum is a contagious disease which means people can get molluscum by sharing towels and clothing. Wrestlers and gymnasts may get it from touching infected mats. Skin-to-skin contact also spreads the virus.

Most commonly a cluster of bumps appear or 10 to 20 bumps appear spreaded all over the body which are pink or flesh-colored.

Bumps of molluscum have following appearance:

• It usually begins as small, firm, dome-shaped growth and have a smooth or waxy surface.
• Bumps are most commonly flesh-colored or pink.
• Characteristic feature of bumps is that they have a dimple in the center. The dimple may be filled with a thick, white substance that is cheesy or waxy.
• These bumps are painless but may be itchy.

Molluscum Contagiosum Causes

• This type of infection easily catches children (age 1 to 10 years) and young adults whose immunity is weakened due to some or the other reason.
• Molluscum Contagiosum can influence any region on the body yet it is typically seen on the face, arms and legs and is caused by DNA poxvirus called the Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV).
• Molluscum is most commonly seen in children.  
• The virus survives in a warm, humid place that is the reason people living in tropical countries like India are more susceptible to get it.. People having atopic dermatitis/eczema are at higher risk of getting molluscum contagiosum.
• A person having weak immunity due to systemic illness like AIDS or treatment for cancer are more prone to get serious infection of molluscum contagiosum.

How does the virus spread:

• It spreads by touching something infected with the virus like a infected towel or infected clothing or toys.
• Wrestlers and gymnasts get it from touching infected mats.Having a direct skin-to-skin contact as during sexual intercoarse can lead to transmission of infection. 
• Once infected with the virus, a person can spread the virus to other parts the body.
• Scratching or picking at bumps on the skin and then touching skin that does not have bumps can spread the virus and cause new bumps.

Molluscum Contagiosum Symptoms

• Molluscum contagiosum is a noncancerous, mostly self-healing disease which shows as round, pearl shaped eruptions. The eruptions look like skin colored and bulging in the presentation.   These bulgings are typically 1–5 millimeters in measurement with a dimple in the center.
• These eruptions are rarely painful but may itch. Only if the eruptions breaks after scratching it may become painful and there are increased chances of secondary infection and bleeding. In very few cases another skin disease in the form of eczema may develop around the molluscum lesions. Most of the time these eruptions are single but multiple molluscum seen in clusters are due to self-spread.
• Although it is commonly seen in children and young adults, Adults may get it through sexual contact.
• In adults, the bumps often appear on the face, neck, armpits, arms, and hands, genitals, etc.

Contagious and recurring disease

It is a contagious disease hence spreads by touching or coming in contact with the infected person. Sharing infected towels or other utensils used by the infected person can be a cause of infection. Having sexual relations with the infected person is also one of the common means of spreading this disease. 

It is a recurring disease which means a person can get infected again even after complete recovery from earlier infection. It can easily be diagnosed after examination.
 

Homeopathic Treatment for Molluscum Contagiosum

• Best way to get rid of molluscum contagiosum is homeopathy treatment. 
• As it is termed as a self-limiting condition in few cases treatment may not be required but it means a long-term recovery period.
• Introducing homeopathic treatment hastens the recovery and reduces the chances of spread.
• Homeopathy is also useful in severe cases where there is widespread and secondary infections have set in.
• Homeopathic medicines treats the underlying immune deficiency so as to avoid recurrence.