A poxvirus infection characterised by skin-coloured, smooth, waxy, umbilicated papules 2 to 10mm in diameter. A giant single molluscum may grow 2 or 3 times as large.
Transmission is by direct contact, often venereal.
Its contagiousness to others varies. The papules may appear anywhere on the skin and often occurs as numerous small papules in the genital and pubic area. The lesions are usually asymptomatic, unless secondarily infected. They can be diagnosed easily by the characteristic central umbilication or dell, filled with a semisolid white material. The disease can spread by autoinoculation but after months may disappear sontaneously.