This summary discusses pediatric patients. Molluscum contagiosum in adults is addressed separately.

Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection of childhood caused by a DNA poxvirus. It is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact, through fomites, or from autoinoculation. There is an increased incidence in children with underlying atopic dermatitis or other conditions with filaggrin gene mutations (such as ichthyosis vulgaris), swimmers, children who bathe together, those who share towels, and immunosuppressed people.

The exact incubation period is unknown but is estimated to be between 2 and 6 weeks. Although it is self-limited, the infection is often chronic and can range from a few months to 4 years (with 13 months as the average time to resolution spontaneously), often with transmission to household members during this time.

Molluscum can be found anywhere on the body. Genital involvement does not absolutely imply sexual transmission, as molluscum may be autoinoculated from a nongenital site to the genital area. A thorough history will direct suspicion for sexual abuse in these cases.