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Contagious mollusk on the century: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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[What causes the molluscum contagiosum?
Called by the dermotropic poxvirus. This nosological form is well known not only to ophthalmologists, but also to pediatricians and dermatologists. It should be noted that the term "contagious" is fundamentally untrue. He appeared at a time when they believed that the disease owed its origin to a simple mollusk that penetrated the skin. Despite the fact that the viral origin of the disease is now clearly established, the old term is still valid. The dermotropic virus that causes the clinic is transmitted by direct contact, as well as through objects, in particular toys.
How does the molluscum contagiosum manifest?
On the skin of the eyelids or around the edges of the eyelids, white round nodules appear with an indentation in the center. When the nodule is squeezed from the cavity, a pulp is released. It is often complicated by persistent follicular conjunctivitis.
The clinical picture of the lesion consists of the appearance on the skin of single or multiple nodules the size of a bulaty head to a pea. Nodules are dense, painless to the touch, have the color of normal skin, sometimes with a peculiar shine resembling the brilliance of a pearl. Typical is the presence in the center of the nodule of a depression with microscopically small holes. When squeezing the nodule through them, a white mass is distinguished, consisting of the degenerated elements of the dermis. In due time this content was taken for a pathogen of the disease.
The molluscum contagiosum can cause persistent viral blepharitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis, and these diseases occur regardless of the location of the mollusc. In those cases where the foci are on the eyelids, the origin of the listed diseases has undoubtedly a viral nature. Blepharitis and keratitis, arising from the soil of this disease, usually do not differ in any specific clinical manifestations. As for conjunctivitis, it is characteristic of the presence of fairly large follicles, resembling follicles in appearance in trachoma.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
How to treat molluscum contagiosum?
The molluscum contagiosum is treated well. Cutaneous elements are destroyed by curettage or diathermocoagulation, followed by extinguishing the bed of the molluscum with a 1% solution of a brilliant green. Blepharitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis after the elimination of all nodules of the shellfish disappear without a trace without any treatment.
The molluscum contagiosum is treated for a century with the help of excising the nodule or scraping it with a sharp spoon, followed by cauterization with an alcoholic solution of a brilliant green; it is possible to act on the affected area with an electrocoagulator.