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Medical Author:

William Shapiro, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Molluscum contagiosum is transmitted by direct contact, either person to person or by shared items, such as clothing, towels, and washcloths. MC can be spread by contact sports. Furthermore, if a person touches the rash and then another part of his or her body, it can cause spread to that area (known as autoinoculation). If the face is involved, shaving may cause it to spread. Although the contagiousness is generally low, it is not known for how long an infected person can transmit the virus.

Outbreaks have occurred in the following settings:

• swimming pools,
  
  
• wrestling matches,
  
  
• during surgery, by a surgeon with a hand lesion (sore),
  
  
• having tattoos (rare), and
  
  
• sexually: It is likely that genital lesions are sexually transmitted. Lesions develop within two to three months after exposure. Some doctors consider MC a sexually transmitted disease in adolescents and adults and recommend that people with genital MC be tested for other STDs. However, not all genital lesions in adults are sexually transmitted. Children with MC involving the genitals should be checked for possible sexual abuse. Nevertheless, genital lesions in children do not always mean that sexual abuse has occurred.

There have been no reports of catching MC from a contaminated toilet seat. Although theoretically possible, this means of transmission is probably very rare.

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