Molluscum contagiosum: causes, symptoms and treatments

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin disease occurring quite frequently. This pathology has some of the characteristics of the manifestation of the first symptoms may occur only after several weeks or months after infection. The disease particularly at risk for of the human body is not responsible, but can cause its owner a strong psychological discomfort.

Causes of molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is an infectious disease caused by poxviruses. Infection occurs primarily by household, that is, when used alone with the patient hygiene items, clothing, glassware, and sexual ways.

The causes of contact of the mollusk – direct close interaction with the carrier of the infection. By the predisposing factors of the disease include weakening of the immune system when the body's defenses are unable to cope with the imbued him with an infection independently.

Getting on the skin of a person, the virus penetrates into the various layers that actively multiplies and forms colonies. This process is accompanied by certain characteristic symptoms. The appearance of the disease in the most vulnerable people with HIV-positive status undergoing treatment with chemotherapy, and the elderly.

Symptoms

Depending on the condition of the immune system, from the moment of infection until the first symptoms of the disease may take from two weeks to six months. The main feature of the disease is a peculiar nodular formation (papules) on different parts of the skin. The size of these formations may be different, ranging from millimeters. The color of the papules do not differ from your skin. With a very weakened immune system there has been a rapid increase in the number of virus-induced nodules on the skin, in the presence of HIV in the body the disease can affect a large part of the skin.

The main locations of molluscum contagiosum are the groin, inner thighs, abdomen, rarely the face, mucous membranes of the eyes and oral cavity. The appearance of nodules on the skin may cause mild itching, no deterioration of General health are not observed.

Outwardly reminiscent of molluscum contagiosum are common skin diseases – warts and papillomas. Accurate diagnosed only by specialist or dermatologist.

The main methods of treatment of the disease

Molluscum contagiosum in some cases takes place without any treatment. If skin lesions inconvenience, be placed on the open areas of the body, you should resort to the services of a physician.

Removal of the papules can be performed by several methods: laser, electric current, liquid nitrogen cooling or conventional scalpel. With extensive lesions of the skin is UV – a procedure involving the irradiation of human body by ultraviolet rays.

As a complement to the treatment of molluscum contagiosum the patient is prescribed vitamins, immune-boosting drugs.