Skin diseases - molluscum contagiosum

One of the forms of dermatosis of the skin is molluscum contagiosum. This is a parasitic viral disease. It is characteristic of a local or general rash on the mucous membranes and surface of the skin. The external manifestation of the disease is the presence of small spherical vesicles that have a central depression.

Brief description of pathology

Infections become the reason that a person has various kinds of skin diseases. Molluscum contagiosum is a pathology of a chronic form. Infection, which damages the skin, persists for a certain period. It can last several months. Virus activity can persist even for several years. But most often, skin rashes are noted in the interval from six to nine months.

skin diseases mollusks
In the event that skin diseases are diagnosed - molluscum contagiosum, we can talk about the patient's contact with an infected person. Animals cannot tolerate these pathologies. Molluscum contagiosum is a purely human disease. The causative agent is a virus. It belongs to smallpox species. This virus propagates in the cell cytoplasm. At the same time, it acquires an oval shape.

Likely ways to get infected

In some situations, skin diseases - molluscum contagiosum - occur during sexual intercourse. In this case, the infection appears on the abdomen, in the groin or on the inside of the thighs. Infection occurs by contact with the skin of a sick partner.
The second way of infection is considered household. If skin diseases molluscum contagiosum occurred, while the pathology is manifested by a rash on the hands, face, and also in other areas, this fact indicates infection through the things of a sick family member.
The causes of infections are crowding and the presence of close contacts in children's groups. This, in turn, can cause an epidemic.

Symptoms of pathology

The incubation period of the disease can last from fourteen days to two months. That is why the source of infection is sometimes difficult to establish. If a mollusk skin disease is diagnosed (see photo below), then clinically it manifests as single spherical vesicles. The skin does not condense and does not change. After a short period, a self-infection process occurs, characterized by an increase in the number of bubbles.

skin disease clam photo

Neoplasms reach the size of a medium pea and merge. In this case, hemispherical giant papules arise, having a depression in the center.

skin diseases clam in children

The patient complains of itching of the skin in the area of ​​infection. From the vesicle, when it is accidentally damaged, a mushy mass resembling mollusk bodies is released. Hence the name of the disease.

Children's pathology

Often in small patients, various skin diseases are observed. Clam in children, as a rule, occurs during household contacts with an infected person. Pink or yellow nodules appear in the lesion. Their size varies from a small grain to a large pea. The appearance of tumors in children is accompanied by conjunctivitis.

Pathology treatment

To get rid of molluscum contagiosum, the specialist selects an individual method for each patient. It could be:

- diathermocoagulation, or cauterization;
- extrusion or curettage of pathogenic nodules with iodine treatment;
- the use of antiviral type ointments;
- treatment with antibiotics (with heavy rash).


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