molluscum contagiosum
- noun
- /mɒləsˌkʌm kənˌteɪdʒiˈoʊsəm/
- Specialized
- Treatment for molluscum contagiosum is often unnecessary, as the bumps can disappear on their own.
Examples
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The doctor diagnosed the rash as molluscum contagiosum, a common infection in young children.
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Doctors often treat molluscum contagiosum with topical creams.
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People with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop molluscum contagiosum.
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My son has molluscum contagiosum on his arm.
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The doctor diagnosed the rash as molluscum contagiosum, a common infection in young children.
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People with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop molluscum contagiosum.
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Treatment for molluscum contagiosum is often unnecessary, as the bumps can disappear on their own.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A skin disease that causes small, soft lumps on the skin
Surface Forms
Morphology
molluscum + contagiosum
The term is a Latin medical binomial: 'molluscum' refers to soft/pulpy skin growths and 'contagiosum' clearly relates to 'contagious', so a learner who knows both constituents could infer a contagious skin condition. However, the phrase is technical and uses Latin morphology rather than everyday English composition, so the exact clinical sense and form may not be fully predictable to typical learners without exposure.
Etymology
Molluscum contagiosum comes from old words that mean 'soft lump' and 'contagious', where molluscum points to the small, soft skin bumps and contagiosum shows they can spread. That's why the name describes a skin infection of tiny bumps that often pass from person to person.