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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Molluscum contagiosum epidemiology and demographics

Introduction

Overview

Overview

The prevalence of molluscum contagiosum is estimated to be around 8000 cases per 100,000 annually. Molluscum contagiosum is a common disease that tends to affect children and immunocompromised adults. Among children, boys and girls are affected equally by molluscum contagiosum. In adulthood, molluscum contagiosum is more prevalent in men than women . There is no racial predilection to molluscum contagiosum.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Epidemiology and Demographics

Prevalence

  • Worldwide, the prevalence of molluscum contagiosum in children aged 0-16 year ranges from 5000 to 11500 per 100,000 persons with an average prevalence of 8000 per 100,000 persons.[1]

Incidence

  • Worldwide, the incidence of molluscum contagiosum is 1200-1400 per 100,000 persons per year.[1]
  • Outbreaks of molluscum contagiosum have occurred in different settings like swimming pools, but the exact information about outbreaks is not available due to the subclinical manifestations leading to under reporting.

Case Fatality Rate

Age

  • The prevalence of molluscum contagiosum decreases with age.[4][1][5]
  • Incidence first peaks in preschool/school-aged children, with the greatest incidence being in those aged 1-4 years.[6]
  • If diagnosed in adults, molluscum contagiosum will most commonly be seen in the 18 to 20 year age group.[7]

Gender

  • Among children, boys and girls are affected equally by molluscum contagiosum.
  • In adulthood, molluscum contagiosum is more prevalent in men than in women .
  • The male to female ratio is approximately 3 to 1 [8]. A high proportion of the studied subjects were HIV-positive adults.[9][10]

Race

  • There is no racial predilection to molluscum contagiosum.[11]

Geographic Distribution

  • There are no geographic predispositions to molluscum contagiosum.
References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Olsen JR, Gallacher J, Piguet V, Francis NA (2014). “Epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum in children: a systematic review”. Fam Pract. 31 (2): 130–6. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmt075. PMID 24297468.
  2. ↑ Calista D, Boschini A, Landi G (1999). “Resolution of disseminated molluscum contagiosum with Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) in patients with AIDS”. Eur J Dermatol. 9 (3): 211–3. PMID 10210787.
  3. ↑ Koopman RJ, van Merriënboer FC, Vreden SG, Dolmans WM (1992). “Molluscum contagiosum; a marker for advanced HIV infection”. Br. J. Dermatol. 126 (5): 528–9. PMID 1610701.
  4. ↑ Leung AK, Barankin B, Hon KL (2017). “Molluscum contagiosum: an update”. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. doi:10.2174/1872213X11666170518114456. PMID 28521677.
  5. ↑ Dohil MA, Lin P, Lee J, Lucky AW, Paller AS, Eichenfield LF (2006). “The epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum in children”. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 54 (1): 47–54. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.08.035. PMID 16384754.
  6. ↑ Kalasannavar SB, Sawalgimath MP (2013). “Molluscum contagiosum: A novel Ayurvedic approach”. Anc Sci Life. 33 (1): 49–51. doi:10.4103/0257-7941.134606. PMC 4140023. PMID 25161331.
  7. ↑ Laxmisha C, Thappa DM, Jaisankar TJ (2003). “Clinical profile of molluscum contagiosum in children versus adults”. Dermatol. Online J. 9 (5): 1. PMID 14996374.
  8. ↑ “Sexually transmitted diseases. Extract from the annual report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and Social Security of the year 1980”. Br J Vener Dis. 59 (2): 134–7. 1983. PMC 1046157. PMID 6687557.
  9. ↑ Overfield TM, Brody JA (1966). “An epidemiologic study of molluscum contagiosum in Anchorage, Alaska”. J. Pediatr. 69 (4): 640–2. PMID 5921341.
  10. ↑ Gottlieb SL, Myskowski PL (1994). “Molluscum contagiosum”. Int. J. Dermatol. 33 (7): 453–61. PMID 7928025.
  11. ↑ Konya J, Thompson CH (1999). “Molluscum contagiosum virus: antibody responses in persons with clinical lesions and seroepidemiology in a representative Australian population”. J. Infect. Dis. 179 (3): 701–4. doi:10.1086/314620. PMID 9952381.

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