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Facts About Molluscum Contagiosum |
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What is it?: A skin disease caused by a virus.
Transmission: By direct skin to skin contact.
Incubation: Usually 30 days to several months between contact and appearance of rash.
Appearance: Single or multiple rounded, dome shaped, firm, waxy flesh coloured to pearly white bumps, usually 1 mm - 4mm in diameter.
Symptoms: Usually not troublesome, however, inflammation, and secondary infection may occur, but rarely.
Diagnosis: By appearance.
Treatment: May resolve spontaneously without treatment or may be treated by application of liquid nitrogen, trichloroacetic acid, podophyllin, silver nitrate, or expression of contents by medical personnel.
Potential Complications: Infection may occur when skin is broken.
Follow-up: Return for examination, 2 weeks to 1 month after treatment so that any new eruptions can be treated. Sexual partners should be examined for molluscum contagiosum.