Microbiology · Other DNA viruses
Molluscum contagiosum virus !
- Virus
- Enveloped
- For completeness
A poxvirus that causes small pearly bumps with a central dimple, mostly in children; it usually clears on its own.
Updated 2026-11-01
Also called: molluscum contagiosum
At a glance
- Shape
- Large, brick-shaped, enveloped
- Genome
- Linear double-stranded DNA
- Envelope
- Enveloped
- Family
- Poxviridae (genus Molluscipoxvirus)
- Size
- About 200 to 300 nm
Morphology
- A poxvirus that replicates in the cytoplasm of keratinocytes
- Large eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions (molluscum bodies) on histology
Transmission
- Direct skin-to-skin contact
- Shared towels and objects
- Sexual contact in adults (genital lesions)
- Autoinoculation by scratching
Reservoir: Humans
Isolation precautions
What the care team adds to standard precautions.
- Standard
Virulence factors
- Infection limited to the epidermis
- Proteins that dampen inflammation and let lesions persist for months
Diseases it causes
- Molluscum contagiosum Molluscum contagiosum →
Clinical picture
- Small pearly papules with a central dimple (umbilicated) that may release whitish material
- Children aged 1 to 10; in adults, genital lesions from sexual contact
- Many large lesions in people with HIV
Diagnosis
- Clinical diagnosis from the typical look
- Biopsy or examination of the core: molluscum bodies
Treatment
It usually resolves on its own within months. If treated: physical methods (curettage, cryotherapy) or topicals such as cantharidin or podophyllotoxin; in HIV, the best measure is restoring immunity with antiretroviral therapy.
Drug class only; doses and regimens are set by the clinician from the current guideline.
Prevention
- No sharing towels and no scratching lesions
- Covering lesions for pools and contact sports
- Standard precautions
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What do molluscum contagiosum lesions look like?
Small, pearly, umbilicated papules, often in clusters.
What does extensive molluscum in an adult suggest?
Immunosuppression, especially HIV infection.
Which family does molluscum contagiosum virus belong to?
The poxviruses, large double-stranded DNA viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm.
Related
Related conditions
← Back to the group: Other DNA viruses
Educational content on microorganisms; not a treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Clinical Overview of Molluscum Contagiosum (CDC, 2024); Appendix A: Type and Duration of Precautions Recommended for Selected Infections and Conditions (CDC, 2024).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.