Molluscum contagiosum Dr Trisha Macnair A mild viral infection which causes lumps on the skin.

In this article

What is molluscum contagiosum?

Symptoms

Treatment and recovery

Molluscum contagiosum is a common, mild viral infection that causes small, pearly white papules or lumps to form on the skin. It's easily picked up by direct skin contact from another child or from the environment.

Many children develop molluscum contagiosum at some point, usually between the ages of two and five (if you tested every adult you'd find most have some trace of having once been exposed to it).

Occasionally, adults are affected, especially if they have some form of immune deficiency. After one infection there's usually lifelong immunity.

The incubation period from initial contact to appearance of the papules is between two to eight weeks.

Papules tend to appear in clusters on the body, face and hands. They're circular, white or flesh coloured and with a central dimple.

If you squeeze them, they may exude a cheesy white fluid, but this isn't recommended and can be very painful.

They may clear up within a few weeks, but often remain for months, and occasionally up to two years.

The condition can usually be easily spotted by appearance but it's worth getting your GP to confirm the diagnosis. In most cases no treatment is needed and the papules will eventually disappear.

However, if they're very numerous or causing the child problems (for example, by rubbing on clothing and becoming inflamed or because they're unsightly) then it might be worth trying treatment, but this can be painful and of limited success.

Your GP may treat molluscum contagiosum using a chemical called podophyllin. The papules are pierced with a sharp instrument that's been dipped in this chemical.

In severe cases it may be necessary to refer the child for treatment from a dermatologist, who may freeze off the papules using cryotherapy or scrape them off the skin (curettage).

Since molluscum contagiosum isn't a serious infection, the Health Protection Agency in the UK doesn't recommend keeping children off school or nursery.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Orlena Kerek in February 2009