Molluscum Contagiosum: A Neglected Sentinel Infection

Perigenital molluscum contagiosum in adults is recognized as being a sexually transmitted infection. A retrospective casenote review was performed on patients attending a department of genitourinary medicine (GUM) who had been diagnosed as having molluscum. One or more co-existent sexually transmitted diseases (STD) were present in 30.4% of 158 men and in 32.1% of 78 women. High rates of concurrent STD were also found in patients whose only presenting symptom was molluscum—in 23.2% of men and 10.5% of women. These rates of STD would undoubtedly have been higher still had the screening of these patients been more comprehensive. In view of these findings it is advisable that adults with perigenital molluscum contagiosum be screened for other STD and that their sexual partners be contact-traced. This will usually require referral to a department of GUM.