Is Molluscum Contagiosum a STD?
Posted: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
by Vita Li
Molluscum contagiosum can be spread by any contact between two people, including sexual contact. There are some complications of molluscum contagiosum infection. The most common complication is a secondary infection caused by bacteria. Additionally, the removal of bumps by scratching, freezing, or fluid removal can leave scars on the skin.
Many, but not all, cases of molluscum in adults are caused by sexual contact. Treatment for molluscum is usually recommended if the growths are in the genital area. If bumps are found in the genital area, it is a good idea to discuss with a health care provider the possibility that you might have another disease that is spread by sexual contact.
There should be no reason to keep a child with molluscum infection home from day care or school. Growths not covered by clothing should be covered with a watertight bandage. Change the bandage daily or when obviously soiled. If a child with bumps in the underwear/diaper area needs assistance going to the bathroom or needs diaper changes, then growths in this area should be bandaged too if possible.
Covering the bumps will protect other children and adults from getting molluscum and will also keep the child from touching and scratching the bumps, which could spread the bumps to other parts of his/her body or cause secondary (bacterial) infections. Remind children to wash their hands frequently.
What do you need to know about swimming pools and molluscum? Some investigations report that spread of molluscum contagiosum is increased in swimming pools. However, it has not been proved how or under what circumstances swimming pools might increase spread of the virus. Activities related to swimming might be the cause.
For example, the virus might spread from one person to another if they share a towel or toys. More research is needed to understand if and for how long the molluscum virus can live in swimming pool water and if such water can infect swimmers. Open sores and breaks in the skin can become infected by many different germs.
Therefore, people with open sores or breaks from any cause should not go into swimming pools. If a person has molluscum bumps, the following recommendations should be followed when swimming: cover all visible bumps with watertight bandages; dispose of all used bandages at home; do not share towels, kick boards or other equipment, or toys; and so on.
As molluscum is caused by a virus, it is highly contagious and can infect human tissue virtually anywhere on the body. Unfortunately, there are few adequate and non invasive molluscum treatments. Surgically removing molluscum or using acids for molluscum treatment, as commonly prescribed, are traumatic and not always effective.
AntiMolluscum-Rx is a potent yet safe anti-viral agent for topical use to eradicate molluscum infections. As the antiviral properties AntiMolluscum-Rx have the demonstrated ability to penetrate all layers of the skin and thoroughly eradicate molluscum infections, these active ingredients in this treatment for molluscum have received considerable attention.
AntiMolluscum-Rx is composed of certified organic extracts selected for their antiviral activity against pox viruses, their ability to heal skin tissue and to strengthen immune defenses. These constituents have marked antiviral activity against enveloped viruses like molluscum and possess antioxidant properties.
AntiMolluscum-Rx is particularly invaluable not only in consideration of its ability to inactivate the extra cellular molluscum virus at very low concentrations, but also for its tolerability to healthy surrounding tissue, which makes this product so important in today's pharmacopia. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org .
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