Molluscum contagiosum physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mahshid Mir, M.D. [2]

Patients with molluscum contagiosum usually appear well and healthy. Physical examination of patients with molluscum contagiosum is usually remarkable for skin papules that are small, shiny, and firm.

• Patients are usually well-appearing.

• Within normal limits.

• Skin papules:
  • Firm
  • Dome shaped
  • Shiny
  • 2 to 5 mm diameter
  • May have central indentation or umbilication
• Polypoid lesion: Occasionally, with a stalk-like base
• Visibly inflamed lesions occasionally may be seen
• Diffuse erythema: May be seen due to Gianotti-Crosti like eruptions

• Conjunctivitis^[1]:
  • Conjunctival erythema
  • Follicular keratoconjunctivitis with or without obvious dermal lid lesions
    • Multiple large lesions that do not respond to standard therapy or recurrent lesions are suggestive of immunocompromise.
• Eyelid lesions
• Intra-oral and gingival lesions

• Lesions due to sexual transmitted infection typical appear in^[2]:
  • Groin
  • Genitals
  • Proximal thighs
  • Lower abdomen
• Small round shiny papules

• The hands and feet are the only part of body that are typically not involved in molluscum contagiosum infection.