HIV/AIDS Glossary

A common, usually mild skin disease caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus. The disease causes small bumps that can appear anywhere on the body. Molluscum contagiosum can spread from one part of the body to another or from one person to another (including via sexual contact). In people with weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV, the bumps of molluscum contagiosum may grow very large, spread rapidly, and be harder to treat.