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Molluscum Contagiosum

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Molluscum (mo-LUS-kum) contagiosum (kun-TAGE-ee-O-sum) is a skin infection. It can appear anywhere on the body, and affects both children and adults.

Causes

The disease is caused by a virus. You can catch it by having sex or being in close contact with an infected person. It may take 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure for symptoms to appear.

Signs/Symptoms

The infection raises small, firm, smooth, skin-colored or white bumps on the skin. Adults may find them on their inner legs, belly, and genitals; children may get them on the face. The bumps do not hurt or itch.

Care

The bumps will disappear without treatment in 10 to 24 months. However, to prevent the infection from spreading, the bumps should be removed by freezing.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

  • Do not scratch the bumps. Scratching may spread the infection to other parts of the body or to other people.
  • Avoid all close contact (including sexual contact) with others until the bumps disappear.
  • If you have liquid-nitrogen freezing treatment, blisters will form. Leave the blisters alone and cover with a bandage. The tops will come off by themselves in 7 to 14 days.

Call Your Doctor If...

  • You develop a high temperature.
  • You develop swelling, redness, pain, tenderness, or warmth in the areas of the bumps. They may be infected.
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