Congenital molluscum contagiosum: Report of four cases and review of the literature

Christopher O'Connell, Arnold Oranje, Dirk Van Gysel, Nanette B. Silverberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection of the skin and mucous membranes that is caused by infection with the molluscum contagiosum virus. Molluscum contagiosum can be acquired from skin to skin contact which may be during play, in a swimming pool, or through sexual contact. Sexually acquired molluscum is rare in younger children, but becomes quite common during adolescence and young adulthood, after the sexual debut. It has been long known that the human papillomavirus, which causes genital warts, i.e., condyloma accuminatum, can be vertically transmitted through an infected genital tract. Children may not manifest condyloma lesions for a few years. The entity of congenital molluscum has been debated in the literature and only three cases of suspected congenital molluscum have been reported. We report on four more infants with congenital molluscum, two children with congenital lesions, and two children with onset of lesions at 6 weeks of age. Two children had single cutaneous lesions on the extremities and two had lesions of the scalp consistent with the site of cervical pressure. Congenital molluscum appears to be a more common entity than previously reported. Vertical transmission of molluscum should be considered for all infantile cases of molluscum.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)553-556
Number of pages4
JournalPediatric Dermatology
Volume25
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2008
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Congenital molluscum contagiosum: Report of four cases and review of the literature'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this