engleski

MOLLUSCA CONTAGIOSA ? DO WE NEED PAEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGIST OR THE EXPERT FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS?

Whereas mollusca contagiosa (MC) are rather frequent in the 1-5 years old children and can be localised almost anywhere on the body, their appearance in adults is mostly regarded as sexually transmitted infection (STI). Molluscipox virus (MCV) might be transmitted directly from person to person or, by autoinoculation. MC in adults characteristically involve the genital area. However, the extragenital appearance of MC in adults can be more typically noticed in patients with immunosuppressive conditions, especially in HIV/AIDS patients. The onset of MC in HIV-positive individuals can be, according to the current literature data, regarded as a part of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). It is most probable that MC affect both sexes equally in children’s age, whereas it seems that in adult age the incidence in males prevails. Thus, in STD clinics in England and Wales, slightly more than twice as many men as woman were diagnosed with MC. Therapy may be beneficial in preventing transmission or autoinoculation. Unfortunately, there is no aetiological treatment of MC so far, and majority of treatment options are mechanical, causing sometimes a certain degree of discomfort, or are not enough “evidence-based”. Special attention should be given to the extragenital site of involvement of MC in adults, and HIV serology testing should certainly be recommended in such patients. Both children and adults with MC should be educated to avoid skin contact and scratching with others to prevent transmission and autoinoculation. Besides, the adult patients with MC should be carefully screened for other STIs and counselled appropriately.

Mollusca contagiosa; Molluscipox virus; HIV serology testing

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