Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

ARTICLE
Year
: 1958  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 37--38

Molluscum contagiosum, a spontaneous cure


Satnam Singh, AD Grover 
 Gandhi Eye Hospital and Muslim University, Institute of Ophthalmology, Aligarh, India

Correspondence Address:
Satnam Singh
Gandhi Eye Hospital and Muslim University, Institute of Ophthalmology, Aligarh
India




How to cite this article:
Singh S, Grover A D. Molluscum contagiosum, a spontaneous cure.Indian J Ophthalmol 1958;6:37-38


How to cite this URL:
Singh S, Grover A D. Molluscum contagiosum, a spontaneous cure. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1958 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];6:37-38
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1958/6/2/37/40720


Full Text

A.A., muslim male, age 22 years, a University student was first seen on 20th May 1957, complaining of redness, watering and itching in the right eye since 15 days.

He was a poorly covered pale young man. There was no enlargement of the pre-auricular or submaxillary lymph glands. Visual acuity was 6/6 in each eye.

In the right eye there was sub-acute catarrhal conjunctivitis with the con�junctival injection more marked in the lower fornix and a watery discharge. Both fornices were studded with follic�les, which were more marked in the lower fornix. The upper tarsal con�juctiva showed no significant papillary hypertrophy. The limbus was broad�ened, but there was no pannus.

On the lower lid margin, partly covered by the cilia, were three pin�head sized, grey, globular masses, which when seen with the corneal microscope had umbilicated tops, part�ly filled up with keratin debris. On the walls of the swellings, vertical parallel-running blood vessels were seen.

In the left eye there was no con�junctival hyperaemia, but there were a few prominent and scattered follicles in both fornices. Limbus was normal.

 Pathological Examination



Conjunctival smear of the right eye was negative. Material was taken for culturing. Scrapings from the foinices

studied after staining with Giemsa stain revealed normal epithelial cells, a large number of polymorphs and a larger number of mononuclear cells.The side nodules were excised on 1 st June 1957 and their histopathology were typical of molluscum contagiosum.

The picture in [Figure 1]. has been taken a week after the removal of the two side nodules. Mild conjunctival hyperaemia was present. The follicles had become smaller in size. The patient had become free from symptoms. The middle mollusc was left as such to see if this was capable of maintaining the follicular conjunctivitis.

 Treatment and Follow Up



Before the operation, right eye received Achromycin oily drops thrice daily but with no significant improve�ment.After the removal of two side nodules, the treatment was suspended.

The patient being asymptomatic failed to report regularly. On 27 th July 1957 (after two months) he turned up complaining of inflammation of the right lower lid since two days. In place of the left-over mollusc a 3 mm long extruded mass of dry cylindrical

material was seen. It came off easily leaving a small oozing depression in the ciliary margin. Mild conjunctival hyperaemia and the follicular hypertrophy were still present, but the latter was much less compared to the picture [Figure 1] taken on 7th June, 1957. The patient remained asymptomatic and when last seen two months later in September, both eyes looked alike and normal.

 Discussion



A spontaneous cure of about a three months old nodule of molluscum con�tagiosum in a young adult is described. The follicular hypertrophy of the con�junctiva which is a toxic manifestation to the virus particles, disappeared when the lid margin was cleared of all the nodules.

Occasional spontaneous disappear�ance of nodules of molluscum contagio�sum is reported - Duke-Elder (1952). Sometimes they 'break down and sup�purate, finally healing without scarring (Turtz, 1942; Julianelle and James, 1943; Saubermann, 1948, Mathiew and Henery 1948). They may persist for many months giving no symptoms, when situated away from the lid margin.[5]

References

1Duke-Elder : (1952). Vol. 2 (1943) Text Book of Ophthalmology, Kimpton, London 1.
2Julianelle and James (1943) Amer. J. Ophthal., 26, 565.
3Mathieu and Henery : (1948) Bull. S. d'O. Paris, No. 7, 449.
4Saubermann : (1948) Ophthalmologica, 66, 107.
5Turtz : (1942) Amer. J. Ophthal., 25, 452