Molluscum Contagiosum A Clinical And Epidemiological Study

摘要

Background: Molluscum Contagiosum (MC), of world wide distribution, is common, but its incidence in most areas is not reliably known. This research examines the prevalence of the disease in relation to general epidemiological variables like age, sex, religion, occupation, seasonal variation including its frequency of clinical variants and association of other skin and systemic diseases. Methods: 100 cases with MC were selected irrespective of age, sex, socioeconomic status of the first 100 patients attending out patient department of the Department of Dermatology STD and Leprosy K.L.E. Society’s Hospital and Medical Research Center and District Hospital Belgaum during the study period of 13 months from 1st September 1995 to 30th September 1996. Clinical examination was done to study the distribution, morphology and umbilication of the lesions. Results: The prevalence of MC was 0.64%. 62% patients belonged to ages 11 to 30 years. Male to Female ratio was 1.6: 1 Hindus (73%) were found to be more involved than Muslims (27%). The prevalence of MC was common among students and housewives (74%), followed by unskilled workers (30.7%), agriculturists and businessmen (26.9%) each and unskilled workers (4%). Conclusion: MC occurred mainly in unskilled workers and was most common in the age group of 21 to 30 (37%). Introduction MC, a benign virus induced tumor of the skin and mucous membranes, is characterized by small discrete flesh colored to pearly umbilicated papules, most commonly 2 mm to 5 mm in diameter, occurring either singly or in groups.1 The prevalence is variable ranging from 1% to 5%.2 During 1964 clinico epidemiological studies were conducted in two widely separated and racially distinct population groups: hospital outpatient and domiciliary patients in Aberdeen and northeast of Scotland and Fijian village dwellers in islands of Fiji in the Southwest Pacific. From 1964 to 1966 368 patients were seen. This was according to Aberdeen surveys. In the Fiji surveys in 1966 the overall incidence was 4.5% compared with 7.2% in 1959 and 6.2% in 1965.3 Becker reported data collected from 1966 to 1983 by the National and therapeutic index survey that is used to compile information about patterns and treatment of disease in office based practices in the United States.4 This is the first clinical and epidemiological study of MC being reported from India. Methods This study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology, STD and Leprosy K.L.E. Society’s Hospital and Medical Research Center and District Hospital Belgaum. The first 100 patients with MC attending the out patient department were selected irrespective of their age, sex, soscio economic status, occupation during the study period of 13 months from 1 st September 1995 to 30 th September 1996. A detailed history was obtained from the patients regarding the disease, its evolution, involution, single or discrete, itching, erythema, bleeding, any appearance of cheesy material, duration of lesions, first site, subsequent sites, atopy, HIV positive and intake of immunosuppressive drugs. Thorough clinical examination was made to define the precise distribution, morphology and umbilication of lesions. The skin was screened for the presence of associated conditions. All 100 patients underwent routine investigations including routine blood counts (total count, differential count &, hemoglobin percentage), urine analysis for albumin, sugar, microscopy. Other investigations like blood for HIV, VDRL and random blood glucose were done in selected cases. Institutional Review Board not needed in India. Specimen Collection MC lesion was pierced by a straight needle and molluscum body was removed by hooking it out. The molluscum body was placed on two glass slides, with the help of scalpel blade smear was prepared by rubbing the molluscum body against the slide. After preparing the smear, it was allowed to dry by exposing the slide to atmospheric temperature for ? hour. Then these two slides we