What is the prognosis and prevention of molluscum contagiosum?

What is the prognosis of molluscum contagiosum?

The majority of people with MC (molluscum contagiosum) will have a positive prognosis due to the infection having the ability to heal on its own. Most cases of MC do not result in further complications and affect the skin only.

Bear in mind, those who suffer from immunosuppression will need a more intricate diagnosis and treatment regime as the infection can persist for a number of years without healing. Those who develop secondary bacterial infections on this skin will also need to be treated accordingly, normally through antibiotics.

Once you have been infected, you will not be immune to future infections.

Preventing the spread of molluscum contagiosum

By now it should be evident that MC is an extremely contagious condition. However, your chance of contracting the condition or passing it onto someone else when you are partaking in everyday activities (this does not include sexual contact) is minimal.

Therefore, you will still be able to attend school or work and other activities and sports, however, some caution will need to be exercised with regard to hygiene and physical contact amongst children.

With this in mind, it is still advised that you take the below steps in avoiding the spread of the virus to others. These steps include:

• Washing your hands – It is best that you keep your hands clean and wash them thoroughly with soap and water in case of the infection spreading from lesions on your hands.
• Avoiding touching the lesions – Try not to touch the lesions, scrub them or shave over them as this will cause them to burst and spread to other areas of the skin.
• Avoid sharing personal items – Personal items include swimming and bath towels, hair brushes and clothes.
• Avoiding sexual contact – When you are infected with MC in or near your genital regions, it is advised that you avoid sexual contact until your lesions have been treated and have disappeared completely.
• Covering the bumps – It is suggested that you use a bandage that is waterproof over your lesions if you have the possibility of coming into contact with another person.

Precautions regarding swimming pools

It is not yet clear as to whether or not the MC virus can spread through chlorinated water in public swimming pools. Some experts suspect that it may be more likely that those swimming are able to spread the virus through the use of shared towels and equipment (i.e. kickboards) that have direct contact with the skin.

To aid in the prevention of the spread of MC, it is advised that you cover bumps using watertight bandages when swimming and do not share towels or other water equipment if you are infected.