The clinical appearance of the lesions is usually sufficient for diagnosis; however, if the diagnosis is uncertain, a special preparation can be performed on a scraping from one of the lesions.

What is the treatment for MCV?

Therapy to relieve itching such as antihistamines should be given if needed.

Eczematous symptoms should be treated in the same way as atopic dermatitis, with good skin care and gentle, fragrance-free emollients. When emollients fail to control the dermatitis, topical corticosteroids and oral antihistamines can be used to relieve itching, allowing affected children to get an uninterrupted night’s sleep.

Corticosteroids should be the first line of prescription therapy for molluscum dermatitis. 

Note: the use of topical corticosteroids in reversing infections is not approved by the FDA, and that the efficacy of corticosteroids in molluscum infection has not been demonstrated in clinical trials.

Antibiotics are only necessary in molluscum cases in which a bacterial infection develops.

Therapies directed at getting rid of the molluscum infection are of three types: those that destroy the lesions directly, those aimed at enhancing immunity, and those that attack the virus.

Destruction of the lesions can be done by freezing, removal, or applying specific medications.

Most of the in-office destructive therapies are best performed by dermatologists experienced in their use.

If you suspect that your child has MCV, I recommend first having your pediatrician evaluate your child to confirm the diagnosis.