A 13-year-old boy with a history of chronic atopic dermatitis, which had mainly affected the antecubital and popliteal areas, presented with a diffuse papular eruption in the lower abdomen that had persisted for approximately 9 months. The atopic dermatitis, which had affected him since early childhood, had been treated intermittently with topical tacrolimus ointment, 0.03%.
On physical examination, reddish-brown, excoriated, scaly and lichenified lesions of atopic dermatitis were present in the antecubital and popliteal fossae. The papules on the abdomen were discrete, smooth, flesh-colored and dome-shaped. Some of the lesions were umbilicated with a surrounding eczematous reaction. The patient’s lesions were diagnosed as molluscum contagiosum.
The boy was advised to use a ceramide-based moisturizer twice a day on the entire body. His dermatologist applied canthardin to the molluscum contagiosum lesions every 2 weeks. The molluscum and eczema resolved after 3 treatments.
Molluscum contagiosum, a common viral cutaneous infection in childhood, is caused by a poxvirus of the Molluscipox genus. Elementary school-aged children are more commonly affected.1 The virus is transmitted through close physical contact, autoinoculation and fomites (eg, bath sponges, towels), especially if the skin is wet.
Typically, molluscum contagiosum presents as discrete, smooth, flesh-colored, dome-shaped, waxy papules with central umbilication from which a plug of cheesy material can be expressed. Lesions usually are 1 to 5 mm in diameter, and they usually number fewer than 20. They often appear in clusters or in a linear pattern. The lesions often are asymptomatic but sometimes may itch.1 Surrounding eczema is common, as illustrated in this case. Approximately 10% of affected patients develop eczematous dermatitis around the molluscum contagiosum lesions.2
Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing dermatosis characterized by pruritus, erythema, vesiculation, exudation, excoriation, crusting, scaling and sometimes lichenification. Atopic dermatitis affects 10% to 20% of school-aged children.3 Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions between susceptible genes, immunologic factors, skin barrier defects, infections, neuroendocrine factors and environmental factors.
Patients with atopic dermatitis have impairment of the barrier function of the skin and immunologic alteration. The loss of skin barrier function and alteration in cell immunity make the stratum corneum susceptible to microbial colonization.3 Also, the barrier disruption in skin with dermatitis provides a portal of entry for microorganisms. As such, individuals with atopic dermatitis are susceptible to viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Secondary bacterial infection, most commonly with Staphylococcus aureus and group A β-hemolytic streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), is the main complication of atopic dermatitis.3 Eczema herpeticum caused by herpes simplex virus is a potentially dangerous complication. Chickenpox can severely exacerbate atopic dermatitis and present as a generalized pruritic rash. Eczema vaccinatum, caused by variola virus, historically follows smallpox vaccination or exposure to atopic dermatitis in individuals with smallpox or who have been vaccinated with smallpox. Children with atopic dermatitis also are prone to molluscum contagiosum, verruca vulgaris (warts) and superficial fungal infections.3
Molluscum contagiosum is more common in individuals with atopic dermatitis, and its lesions tend to be more persistent, more extensive and more disseminated in this patient population. Agromayor and colleagues4 reported that 49% of children in Spain under 10 years of age who were infected with molluscum contagiosum also had atopic dermatitis.
The use of topical corticosteroids or immunomodulators (ie, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) may be contributory; these agents lower the cell-mediated immunity locally and provide a favorable environment for molluscum contagiosum infection.5
The perilesional eczematous reaction may be due to a local sensitization to molluscum contagiosum elementary bodies or a soluble product of their metabolism.6 Such sensitization occurs only in a minority of cases of molluscum contagiosum. The localized eczematous reaction also may be related to scratching of the lesions in susceptible individuals with atopic dermatitis.
Note: This article originally appeared in Consultant for Pediatricians. CFP. 2015;15(5):239-240.
Dr. Leung is with the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Barankin is with Toronto Dermatology Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial relationships.
References
1. Leung AK, Davies HD. Molluscum contagiosum—an overview. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2012;8(4):346-349.
2. Seo SH, Chin HW, Jeong DW, Sung HW. An open, randomized, comparative clinical and histological study of imiquimod 5% cream versus 10% potassium hydroxide solution in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum. Ann Dermatol. 2010;22(2):156-162.
3. Leung AK, Hon KL. Atopic Dermatitis: A Review for the Primary Care Physician. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers; 2012:1-113.
4. Agromayor M, Oritz P, Lopez-Estebaranz JL, Gonzalez-Nicolas J, Esteban M, Martin-Gallardo A. Molecular epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum virus and analysis of the host-serum antibody response in Spanish HIV-negative patients.
J Med Virol. 2002;66(2):151-158.
5. Wilson LM, Reid CM. Molluscum contagiosum in atopic dermatitis treated with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment. Australas J Dermatol. 2004;45(3):184-185.
6. DeOreo GA, Johnson HH Jr, Binkley GW. An eczematous reaction associated with molluscum contagiosum. AMA Arch Dermatol.1956;74(4):344-348.
A 13-year-old boy with a history of chronic atopic dermatitis, which had mainly affected the antecubital and popliteal areas, presented with a diffuse papular eruption in the lower abdomen that had persisted for approximately 9 months. The atopic dermatitis, which had affected him since early childhood, had been treated intermittently with topical tacrolimus ointment, 0.03%.
On physical examination, reddish-brown, excoriated, scaly and lichenified lesions of atopic dermatitis were present in the antecubital and popliteal fossae. The papules on the abdomen were discrete, smooth, flesh-colored and dome-shaped. Some of the lesions were umbilicated with a surrounding eczematous reaction. The patient’s lesions were diagnosed as molluscum contagiosum.
The boy was advised to use a ceramide-based moisturizer twice a day on the entire body. His dermatologist applied canthardin to the molluscum contagiosum lesions every 2 weeks. The molluscum and eczema resolved after 3 treatments.
Molluscum contagiosum, a common viral cutaneous infection in childhood, is caused by a poxvirus of the Molluscipox genus. Elementary school-aged children are more commonly affected.1 The virus is transmitted through close physical contact, autoinoculation and fomites (eg, bath sponges, towels), especially if the skin is wet.
Typically, molluscum contagiosum presents as discrete, smooth, flesh-colored, dome-shaped, waxy papules with central umbilication from which a plug of cheesy material can be expressed. Lesions usually are 1 to 5 mm in diameter, and they usually number fewer than 20. They often appear in clusters or in a linear pattern. The lesions often are asymptomatic but sometimes may itch.1 Surrounding eczema is common, as illustrated in this case. Approximately 10% of affected patients develop eczematous dermatitis around the molluscum contagiosum lesions.2
Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing dermatosis characterized by pruritus, erythema, vesiculation, exudation, excoriation, crusting, scaling and sometimes lichenification. Atopic dermatitis affects 10% to 20% of school-aged children.3 Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions between susceptible genes, immunologic factors, skin barrier defects, infections, neuroendocrine factors and environmental factors.
Patients with atopic dermatitis have impairment of the barrier function of the skin and immunologic alteration. The loss of skin barrier function and alteration in cell immunity make the stratum corneum susceptible to microbial colonization.3 Also, the barrier disruption in skin with dermatitis provides a portal of entry for microorganisms. As such, individuals with atopic dermatitis are susceptible to viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Secondary bacterial infection, most commonly with Staphylococcus aureus and group A β-hemolytic streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), is the main complication of atopic dermatitis.3 Eczema herpeticum caused by herpes simplex virus is a potentially dangerous complication. Chickenpox can severely exacerbate atopic dermatitis and present as a generalized pruritic rash. Eczema vaccinatum, caused by variola virus, historically follows smallpox vaccination or exposure to atopic dermatitis in individuals with smallpox or who have been vaccinated with smallpox. Children with atopic dermatitis also are prone to molluscum contagiosum, verruca vulgaris (warts) and superficial fungal infections.3
Molluscum contagiosum is more common in individuals with atopic dermatitis, and its lesions tend to be more persistent, more extensive and more disseminated in this patient population. Agromayor and colleagues4 reported that 49% of children in Spain under 10 years of age who were infected with molluscum contagiosum also had atopic dermatitis.
The use of topical corticosteroids or immunomodulators (ie, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) may be contributory; these agents lower the cell-mediated immunity locally and provide a favorable environment for molluscum contagiosum infection.5
The perilesional eczematous reaction may be due to a local sensitization to molluscum contagiosum elementary bodies or a soluble product of their metabolism.6 Such sensitization occurs only in a minority of cases of molluscum contagiosum. The localized eczematous reaction also may be related to scratching of the lesions in susceptible individuals with atopic dermatitis.
Note: This article originally appeared in Consultant for Pediatricians. CFP. 2015;15(5):239-240.
Dr. Leung is with the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Barankin is with Toronto Dermatology Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial relationships.
References
1. Leung AK, Davies HD. Molluscum contagiosum—an overview. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2012;8(4):346-349.
2. Seo SH, Chin HW, Jeong DW, Sung HW. An open, randomized, comparative clinical and histological study of imiquimod 5% cream versus 10% potassium hydroxide solution in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum. Ann Dermatol. 2010;22(2):156-162.
3. Leung AK, Hon KL. Atopic Dermatitis: A Review for the Primary Care Physician. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers; 2012:1-113.
4. Agromayor M, Oritz P, Lopez-Estebaranz JL, Gonzalez-Nicolas J, Esteban M, Martin-Gallardo A. Molecular epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum virus and analysis of the host-serum antibody response in Spanish HIV-negative patients.
J Med Virol. 2002;66(2):151-158.
5. Wilson LM, Reid CM. Molluscum contagiosum in atopic dermatitis treated with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment. Australas J Dermatol. 2004;45(3):184-185.
6. DeOreo GA, Johnson HH Jr, Binkley GW. An eczematous reaction associated with molluscum contagiosum. AMA Arch Dermatol.1956;74(4):344-348.
A 13-year-old boy with a history of chronic atopic dermatitis, which had mainly affected the antecubital and popliteal areas, presented with a diffuse papular eruption in the lower abdomen that had persisted for approximately 9 months. The atopic dermatitis, which had affected him since early childhood, had been treated intermittently with topical tacrolimus ointment, 0.03%.
On physical examination, reddish-brown, excoriated, scaly and lichenified lesions of atopic dermatitis were present in the antecubital and popliteal fossae. The papules on the abdomen were discrete, smooth, flesh-colored and dome-shaped. Some of the lesions were umbilicated with a surrounding eczematous reaction. The patient’s lesions were diagnosed as molluscum contagiosum.
The boy was advised to use a ceramide-based moisturizer twice a day on the entire body. His dermatologist applied canthardin to the molluscum contagiosum lesions every 2 weeks. The molluscum and eczema resolved after 3 treatments.
Molluscum contagiosum, a common viral cutaneous infection in childhood, is caused by a poxvirus of the Molluscipox genus. Elementary school-aged children are more commonly affected.1 The virus is transmitted through close physical contact, autoinoculation and fomites (eg, bath sponges, towels), especially if the skin is wet.
Typically, molluscum contagiosum presents as discrete, smooth, flesh-colored, dome-shaped, waxy papules with central umbilication from which a plug of cheesy material can be expressed. Lesions usually are 1 to 5 mm in diameter, and they usually number fewer than 20. They often appear in clusters or in a linear pattern. The lesions often are asymptomatic but sometimes may itch.1 Surrounding eczema is common, as illustrated in this case. Approximately 10% of affected patients develop eczematous dermatitis around the molluscum contagiosum lesions.2
Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing dermatosis characterized by pruritus, erythema, vesiculation, exudation, excoriation, crusting, scaling and sometimes lichenification. Atopic dermatitis affects 10% to 20% of school-aged children.3 Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions between susceptible genes, immunologic factors, skin barrier defects, infections, neuroendocrine factors and environmental factors.
Patients with atopic dermatitis have impairment of the barrier function of the skin and immunologic alteration. The loss of skin barrier function and alteration in cell immunity make the stratum corneum susceptible to microbial colonization.3 Also, the barrier disruption in skin with dermatitis provides a portal of entry for microorganisms. As such, individuals with atopic dermatitis are susceptible to viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Secondary bacterial infection, most commonly with Staphylococcus aureus and group A β-hemolytic streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), is the main complication of atopic dermatitis.3 Eczema herpeticum caused by herpes simplex virus is a potentially dangerous complication. Chickenpox can severely exacerbate atopic dermatitis and present as a generalized pruritic rash. Eczema vaccinatum, caused by variola virus, historically follows smallpox vaccination or exposure to atopic dermatitis in individuals with smallpox or who have been vaccinated with smallpox. Children with atopic dermatitis also are prone to molluscum contagiosum, verruca vulgaris (warts) and superficial fungal infections.3
Molluscum contagiosum is more common in individuals with atopic dermatitis, and its lesions tend to be more persistent, more extensive and more disseminated in this patient population. Agromayor and colleagues4 reported that 49% of children in Spain under 10 years of age who were infected with molluscum contagiosum also had atopic dermatitis.
The use of topical corticosteroids or immunomodulators (ie, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) may be contributory; these agents lower the cell-mediated immunity locally and provide a favorable environment for molluscum contagiosum infection.5
The perilesional eczematous reaction may be due to a local sensitization to molluscum contagiosum elementary bodies or a soluble product of their metabolism.6 Such sensitization occurs only in a minority of cases of molluscum contagiosum. The localized eczematous reaction also may be related to scratching of the lesions in susceptible individuals with atopic dermatitis.
Note: This article originally appeared in Consultant for Pediatricians. CFP. 2015;15(5):239-240.
Dr. Leung is with the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Barankin is with Toronto Dermatology Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial relationships.
References
1. Leung AK, Davies HD. Molluscum contagiosum—an overview. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2012;8(4):346-349.
2. Seo SH, Chin HW, Jeong DW, Sung HW. An open, randomized, comparative clinical and histological study of imiquimod 5% cream versus 10% potassium hydroxide solution in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum. Ann Dermatol. 2010;22(2):156-162.
3. Leung AK, Hon KL. Atopic Dermatitis: A Review for the Primary Care Physician. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers; 2012:1-113.
4. Agromayor M, Oritz P, Lopez-Estebaranz JL, Gonzalez-Nicolas J, Esteban M, Martin-Gallardo A. Molecular epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum virus and analysis of the host-serum antibody response in Spanish HIV-negative patients.
J Med Virol. 2002;66(2):151-158.
5. Wilson LM, Reid CM. Molluscum contagiosum in atopic dermatitis treated with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment. Australas J Dermatol. 2004;45(3):184-185.
6. DeOreo GA, Johnson HH Jr, Binkley GW. An eczematous reaction associated with molluscum contagiosum. AMA Arch Dermatol.1956;74(4):344-348.
