molluscom transmission

[laughforrory]

i recently exchanged massages with a friend who told me a few days later that she had suffered a molluscom outbreak in the last year -- perhaps as long as a year ago, no less than six months ago.   by exchange massages, i mean exactly that:  no genital contact, but contact with legs, thighs, torso.  my question is:  how contagious is the molluscom virus from skin-to-skin contact when no lesions are present, & what is the period of time after any (theoretical) exposure before i could then transmit the virus myself to someone else?   can mouth-to-mouth kissing transmit molloscum when no lesions are present?  

is there a blood test specifically for molluscum, or is molloscum only diagnosable when one is symptomatic?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

If you have molluscum, you can see it--it brings small, clear bumps, usually in clusters.  Despite its designation as "contagiosum," most of the cases I see (and I see a lot) have not been caught from anyone, because I always ask whether a family member or partner has it, and the answer is almost always no.  I would advise you to just let things ride.  If you see anything, check it out, but you probably won't.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff