Molluscum contagiosum is characterized by small pearly papules with a central depression whose core may be expressed, producing a white cheesy material. The lesions average 2 to 5 mm in size and are usually painless, but may become inflamed, red, and swollen. Molluscum contagiosum is a self-limited infection; the papules usually disappear spontaneously within 6 to 12 months but may take as long as 4 years to resolve. The infection is found worldwide but is more common in developing countries and has traditionally been regarded as a pediatric disease. Successful vaccination against smallpox in infancy is not protective. Little has been verified with regard to the incubation period; however, it is estimated to be between 2 weeks and 6 months.

Patients with HIV/AIDS and other immunocompromised conditions can develop “giant” lesions, larger numbers of lesions, and lesions that are more resistant to standard therapy. The following diseases should be considered in the differential diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum: basal cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, and verruca vulgaris. For genital lesions, condyloma acuminata and vaginal syringoma should be considered. Atopic dermatitis may be a risk factor for contracting molluscum contagiosum due to the barrier breaks and immune cell dysfunction in atopic skin. In addition, these patients may be more likely to autoinoculate new areas of skin because of the underlying pruritus from their atopy.

Molluscum contagiosum lesions have recently come to be classified in one of three ways: the commonly seen skin lesions found largely on the faces, trunks, and limbs of children; the sexually transmitted lesions found on the abdomen, inner thighs, and genitals of sexually active adults; and the diffuse and recalcitrant eruptions of patients with AIDS or other immunosuppressive disorders. Diagnosis is generally made based on the appearance of lesions. Skin biopsy may be necessary in immunocompromised patients to exclude other conditions such as malignancy or endemic fungal infections. This finding may also be observed on Giemsa-stained core material expressed onto a glass slide.

Although lesions due to molluscum are usually benign and resolve without scarring, scarring may occur from excoriation during the natural healing process in up to 7% of patients or after excessive curettage. For this reason, curettage is often not recommended in otherwise healthy individuals. Secondary infections may be a problem in immunocompromised patients, such as those with HIV/AIDS or those taking immunosuppressive drug therapies. In these cases, treatment to prevent further spread of the infection is recommended. In recent years, medical professionals and the general public have been showing greater interest in the development of plant medicines for molluscum contagiosum.

The health care system of America has many drawbacks; the health care costs rise year after year; the economic burden is too high; additionally, western medicine and synthetic drugs are not a panacea and can not meet the requirements of the people. All these factors encourage them to find a new way. Many people in America don’t have health insurance and taking medicine is a major economic burden for them. For some common diseases or mild diseases, it’s the most economical choice to take plant medicine in accordance with the symptoms. In addition, although synthetic drugs are effective, they have much side effects with high price. Some ailments could not be treated by synthetic drugs.

It’s a new social fashion that you should put emphasis on physical health and often take a variety of health medicines such as vitamine, mineral, plant medicine and so on. The tide of backing to nature is rising in the world especially in the United States and usage of natural plant medicine is consistent with this idea. What’s more, people gradually tend to self-treatment and do not want to rely entirely on the treatment from doctors. The higher level of education, the more strongly this idea. Plant medicines are food supplements and free to buy and take, thus fully meeting the requirements of public self-treatment.

A series of clinical trials for plant medicine conducted in Europe and America have approved that the efficacy of plant medicine is conclusive with scientific pharmacology to illustrate, which enhances the confidence of the people. 50%-60% of the public think that herbal therapy is effective and 70%-80% think that plant medicines come from nature and are safer than synthetic drugs with little side effect. The application of plant medicine played an important role in treating molluscum contagiosum and other skin diseases. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.

Molluscum contagiosum is caused by DNA poxvirus, the largest virus known. The inner and outer membranes of the virion surround a dumbbell-shaped nucleoid. The genome is a linear duplex DNA with an estimated weight of 120-200 megadaltons. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) reveals 4 viral subtypes named MCV 1, 2, 3, and 4. All subtypes cause similar clinical symptoms. The most common subtypes, MCV 1 and MCV 2, have genomes of 185 kb and 195 kb. MCV encodes an antioxidant protein, selenoprotein, which functions as a scavenger of reactive oxygen metabolites and protects cells from UV or peroxide damage. The particular role of this protein is not known because the attempt to grow MCV in vitro has not been successful.

The epidermis is acanthotic and may measure up to 6 times the normal thickness. Basal cells are slightly larger and more columnar than normal, with dense and granular nuclei. Above the basal keratinocytes are enlarged keratinocytes with a deep purple appearance. The molluscum body is the result of a virally induced cytoplasmic transformation that begins in the lower cells of the epidermis, just above the basal cell layer. Keratinocytes contain multiple Feulgen-positive intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies containing viral particles that can be identified in the cells of stratum spinosum. The viral particles increase in size as they progress up toward the granular layer causing compression of the nucleus to the periphery of the infected keratinocytes. The core of the down-growth of the central stratum corneum of the papules is largely replaced by viral particles.

Recently, the tide of backing to nature is rising in the world especially in the United States and usage of natural plant medicine for molluscum contagiosum is consistent with this idea. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act passed by Congress included plant medicine, vitamine and mineral into food supplements category. This act greatly restricts the intervention with plant medicine from FDA, provides the most effective legislation assurance and creates good environment for great development. It’s a new social fashion that you should put emphasis on physical health and often take a variety of health medicines such as vitamine, mineral and plant medicine.

Although synthetic drugs are effective, they have much side effects with high price. Some ailments could not be treated by synthetic drugs. People gradually tend to self-treatment and do not want to rely entirely on the treatment from doctors. The higher level of education, the more strongly this idea. Plant medicines are food supplements and free to buy and take, thus fully meeting the requirements of public self-treatment. The generation born in the baby boom after World War Two enter old age one after another and a variety of common illnesses occur frequently. Plant medicines have significant effect with little side effect and thus are very popular.

A series of clinical trials for plant medicine conducted in Europe and America have approved that the efficacy of plant medicine is conclusive with scientific pharmacology to illustrate, which enhances the confidence of the people. 50%-60% of the public think that herbal therapy is effective and 70%-80% think that plant medicines come from nature and are safer than synthetic drugs with little side effect. Publicity report at great length from various media aroused people’s curiosity as if they discovered new world. People began to pay attention to plant medicine and accept plant medicine; some even think it as a panacea to quell.

The health care system of America has many drawbacks; the health care costs rise year after year; the economic burden is too high; additionally, western medicine and synthetic drugs are not a panacea and can not meet the requirements of the people. All these factors encourage them to find a new way. About 40,000,000 people in America don’t have health insurance and taking medicine is a major economic burden for them. For some common diseases or mild diseases, it’s the most economical choice to take plant medicine in accordance with the symptoms. To learn why plant medicines for molluscum contagiosum are popular, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.