MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM: WHO GETS AND CAUSES
Who gets infected with Molluscum contagiosum?
This disease of the skin can mostly be seen in children. Individuals who reside in a tropical climate have a higher tendency of contracting molluscum. This virus levels in a humid, warm place. The risk of contracting molluscum contagiosum can be increased by having atopic dermatitis.
When an individual’s immune system is weakened as a result of a medical condition like treatment of cancer or AIDS, a severe case of molluscum contagiosum can be gotten by that person.
What results in molluscum contagiosum?
The simple answer is, a virus is what causes molluscum. The virus can be gotten in two ways, which are:
1. Be in contact with something that is infected with the virus
Molluscum can be gotten when you use a towel that is affected. You can also get it when you touch toys or clothing that are infected. Gymnasts and wrestlers get it anytime they touch mats that are infected.
2. Making direct skin-to-skin contact
Molluscum contagiosum is mostly gotten by children because they have several direct skin-to-skin contacts with many other people. Individuals who take part in contact sports like wrestling get infected with this disease via the skin-to-skin contact. Adults and teens mostly get this virus via sexual contact.
When someone is infected with this virus, the individual can spread molluscum contagiosum to other parts of their body. Picking or scratching bumps on their skin, then touching the uninfected skin can result in new bumps. This is called self-re-infection by the dermatologists.