Preventing Molluscum Contagiosum in Schools, Daycares, and Pools

Key points

  • Molluscum contagiosum is an infection that causes small, raised sores on your body.
  • Molluscum spreads from person-to-person contact and through contaminated objects.
  • Molluscum is not a serious illness, and children with molluscum shouldn't be kept home from daycare or school.
  • At the pool, the virus is likely passed on from objects rather than in the water itself.
  • Cover molluscum lesions to keep them from spreading.
A child looks at molluscum bumps on their arm and arm pit. Image: Scott Norton MD, MPH, Dept. of Dermatology, WRAMC

Overview

Molluscum contagiosum is an infection caused by a that causes small, raised, white, pink, or flesh-colored (growths) that can appear on the body

You can get molluscum if you touch the lesions of someone who has it. It can also spread when you touch items that have the virus on it.

Where molluscum contagiosum spreads

Anyone can get infected, but molluscum is most common in children between 1 and 10 years old. This means that many kids in daycare centers and schools may get it.

Some investigations report that spread of molluscum contagiosum happens in swimming pools. However, it's never been proven how this might happen. It's more likely that activities related to swimming are the cause. For example, the virus might spread from one person to another if they share a towel, kickboard, goggles, or toys.

Fact

Molluscum is usually not dangerous, and you typically don't need treatment if you get it. It isn't necessary to keep children with molluscum out of schools, daycares, and pools.

Prevention steps and strategies

Keep in mind

Teachers and daycare center staff: tell parents or guardians if you notice lesions on a child's skin. Your school or center may require a doctor's note to allow children to attend, and only a healthcare professional can diagnose molluscum contagiosum.

Cover lesions

Covering lesions will help protect others from getting molluscum. This also keeps the child from touching and scratching the lesions, which could spread the infection to other parts of the body or cause bacterial infections.

Cover lesions not covered by clothing with a bandage. Change the bandage when obviously dirty.

If a child with lesions in the underwear/diaper area needs assistance going to the bathroom or needs diaper changes, then lesions in this area should be bandaged too if possible.

Keep Reading: Clean Hands and Spaces: Handwashing and Cleaning in Educational Facilities

When swimming

If a person with molluscum is going swimming, they should:

  • Cover all visible lesions with watertight bandages
  • Dispose of all used bandages at home
  • Not share towels, kickboards, other equipment, or toys

Spotlight

People with open sores from molluscum or other causes shouldn't go into swimming pools because the sores could get infected by many kinds of bacteria or viruses in the water.

Considerations for pool administrators

Public pool administrators should carefully consider whether or not to keep kids with molluscum out of public pools. Children may need the pool for exercise, social outings, or during camp. Excluding children with molluscum, which is typically not a dangerous infection, could cause embarrassment and create social stigma.

If a public pool does implement a no-molluscum policy, the diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum should be made by a healthcare provider. All participating children should be subject to the same screening physical exam, which would include a thorough skin examination as well.

Disinfect pool equipment

Thorough disinfection and drying of kickboards and other pool equipment that might touch lesions should reduce the likelihood of molluscum contagiosum transmission.

There is no EPA-registered disinfectant approved to kill molluscum contagiosum virus. Household bleach solutions and other EPA-registered surface disinfectants can effectively decontaminate surfaces. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for concentration, contact time, and care in handling.

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; About the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
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