Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a highly contagious benign viral epidermal infection caused by a DNA virus of the Poxviridae family, Molluscipox genus.

It usually affects school-aged children and occasionally adults and immunocompromised individuals [1].

Clinically, it appears as papules or nodules with umbilicated centers 1 to 10 mm in diameter, don’t exceed 1 cm. However, an atypical presentation in terms of location, size, and number can be found and increases the difficulty of diagnosis.

In children, MC is often located in the face, trunk, and extremities. However, localization in the genital area is more common in adults and is considered a sexually transmitted disease [2].

Therefore, cases of genital MC must rule out child abuse, even though self-inoculation of poxvirus is a potential mode of transmission.

We report a case of a 9-year-old child who presented for 6 months with well-limited rounded nodules and papules umbilicated in places with smooth surfaces at the scrotal and inguinal level (Fig. 1a), with no central polylobular white-yellow structureless area at the dermoscopy whose histopathological findings were in favor of a molluscum contagiosum (Fig. 1b).

Figure 1: (a) Clinical image showing well-limited rounded nodules and papules umbilicated in places with a smooth surface at the scrotal and inguinal level. (b) Histological image, HES G staining × 100 showing a piriform epidermal invagination with intrakeratinocyte globoid inclusions: molluscoid corpuscles becoming basophilic and stacked then rejected on the surface.

The transmission of molluscum contagiosum is caused by direct physical contact.

Swimming, co-bathing, fomite by sharing towels/sponges, and self-inoculation, promote MC spread. Weismann et al reported that sitting around the pool is a possible mode of transmission [3].

Notes