Molluscum Contagiosum Epidemic Spreads Among Hundreds of Israeli Children This Summer

An outbreak of molluscum contagiosum, a contagious viral skin disease, is affecting hundreds to thousands of children aged two to six in Israel this summer. The illness manifests as small, itchy bumps on the skin that can appear months after infection. The disease spreads primarily through direct contact between children and shared items like towels, with swimming pools and bathtubs contributing to the rise in cases during the summer months.

Parents have reported clusters of infections in kindergartens, with children scratching the bumps, sometimes causing secondary bacterial infections. Dr. Yitzhak Konfino, head of dermatology at Wolfson Medical Center, notes that he sees at least six children daily with molluscum, but estimates many more remain untreated. The bumps typically appear on covered body areas such as armpits, waist, limbs, neck, and face, and can cause significant discomfort, especially in children with sensitive skin or eczema.

Transmission occurs through close contact, especially during shared bathing, making siblings particularly vulnerable. While the virus cannot be eradicated by medication, treatment focuses on removing the bumps to reduce spread. Wolfson Medical Center has recently begun using a topical treatment called Cantharidin, approved by the FDA about three years ago and used in the US and Canada. This painless treatment causes small blisters that dry and peel off the bumps within days, offering a less invasive alternative to older methods like liquid nitrogen freezing.

Parents are advised to monitor symptoms and consider treatment if there are numerous bumps, severe itching, secondary infections, or risk of spreading within families. The summer swimming season is expected to continue driving new cases until it ends.