Molluscum Risk

[cwQuestions]

Hello,

My wife was diagnosed with molluscum on her groin and thigh, she had about 6 of them completely removed by a dermatologist using curettage about 8 weeks ago, and so far none have come back.

I've done quite a bit of searching online, so I know the basics, but I have a few questions:

1. Is it possible to transmit this to someone without showing any symptoms? I'm asking because I'm certain I gave this to my wife (due to an indiscretion on my part, my wife knows about it), but I myself have not had any molluscum. I was examined by a doctor who confirmed this, and a dermatologist examined me a few days ago and confirmed there were no lesions.  

2. Did my body clear this on it's own before showing any lesions and so quickly?

3. When can we safely have sex again?

4. Is there a big risk of passing this to our children (aged 9 months and 3 years old)? Based of what I've read online, it's possible to catch these just by looking at them. So I'm pretty worried about it.

Thank you for this great forum!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Absolutely.  Molluscum is typically quite mild and more of a nuisance than anything else.  It can be a major problem for person with HIV bit not for others.  The internet inflates this.  EWH

[cwQuestions]

Thank you doctor, your comments are very helpful. One final question, has it been your experience that molluscum really is a mild condition?  

It's hard to get a proper perspective when a quick Internet search returns so many horror stories and images.

Thank you again for your help.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum and thank you for your compliments.  One of the things we pride ourselves on in this Forum is not only being current on the latest knowledge in our field but also being willing to tell you when the answers to good questions from clients (such as yours) are not known. This is relevant to your questions because relatively little is known about molluscum.  The infection is a common one that typically goes away by itself, most often over several months but on occasion talking as long as 8-9 months to go away without therapy.  Transmission is presumed to occur through direct contact and be more likely if there is minor trauma present.  It may be transmitted through sexual contact but other forms of contact can also lead to transmission and the infection can be quite common in children who spread it from person to person in the course of playing.  Most transmission is thought to occur as a result of direct lesion contact but whether there are asymptomatic forms is unknown. It is reasonable to assume that early in the course of infection it could go unnoticed and transmitted that way.  

With this as background, I'll try to address your concerns but will also will tell you when there is insufficient knowledge to give a definitive answer.

1. Is it possible to transmit this to someone without showing any symptoms? I'm asking because I'm certain I gave this to my wife (due to an indiscretion on my part, my wife knows about it), but I myself have not had any molluscum. I was examined by a doctor who confirmed this, and a dermatologist examined me a few days ago and confirmed there were no lesions.

See above.  Your guilt does not mean you definitively gave this to your wife.    Sometimes things happen that cannot be easily explained.

2. Did my body clear this on it's own before showing any lesions and so quickly?

From what we know, this is possible but it would seem that you probably would have noticed lesions if they were present.

3. When can we safely have sex again?

At any time. What has happened is over and done with.  Move forward.

4. Is there a big risk of passing this to our children (aged 9 months and 3 years old)? Based of what I've read online, it's possible to catch these just by looking at them. So I'm pretty worried about it.

Heck, she may have gotten this form the kids, not you.  Please do not let your concerns interfere with your interactions with your children (or your wife).

I hope my comments are helpful. EWH