Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

That my son should always wear verrucah socks when he swims.

12 replies

shinyshoes · 10/05/2008 21:26

Last year we spent 3 months treating sodding verrucahs on both of the children.

The doctor wasn't interested in burning the off or freezing them but gave us some stuff he said as long as we persevered they would fall off.

Night after night after night for 3 months we soaked, rubbed, applied. Eventually they came off.

We invested in verrucah socks.

my youngest goes swimming lessons every tuesday and every tuesday I make him put on the socks. I get him dressed and he's not to remove the socks til his standing on the towel he knows the rules.

He went up a group the week previous and when we took him to his new class for the second week he had been moved back down.

He was very upset, crying and couldnt understand why he had to go back down. I wasn't happy as I felt he could swim as good if not better than some in his new group. The head came over and explained that he didnt have the stamina to cope with the group and they wanted to see that he could swim a couple of lenghts of the pool withput struggling. Anyway long story short she said could they remove the socks, at first I said no and asked why and she said they weere like sandbags and she wanted to see his capabilities and absolutely assured me he couldn't catch /pass verrucahs poolside and if he was to get them it would be in the changing room.
I agreed they moved him back up.

Anyway, I have looked on his foot tonight, just glanced as it was in my face and he's got a bloody verrucah.

Me being dubious as to how quick they appear as Hubby if he makes him wear the socks when he takes him. Guess what he dosen't.

So, I've said HE is to treat the verrucah, when he's not working and its not bloody fair.
It's not difficult make him wear the damn socks.

3 more bloody months of trying to get rid of it again.

AIBU in being VERY annoyed and making hubby treat it seeing as it was his fault he caught it.

AIBU in that Hubby doesnt seem to care that he's got it?

OP posts:

milliec · 10/05/2008 21:35

Message withdrawn

macdoodle · 10/05/2008 21:37

YAB a little U - I know its annoying but par for the course with kids like nits and colds...
Can't be very nice for him bet he gets teased
Oh and as for GP - there is NONE (thats right nil nada absolutely sod all) evidence that freezing or cutting works any quicker than the good old filing and painting etc - oh and it BLOODY hurts ....so your GP is absolutely right

theyoungvisiter · 10/05/2008 21:42

I think verrucas are a fact of life and maybe you are worrying too much - but I agree they are a pain to treat.

Have you tried the duct tape method? I've never used it myself as I've only recently heard about it, but my friend (who is a GP) swears by it - says it's painless, v easy and almost as effective as painting.

I can google you instructions if you want.

Original poster

shinyshoes · 10/05/2008 21:51

Yes please the youngvisitor that would be good

OP posts:

theyoungvisiter · 10/05/2008 21:58

From what I've gathered it looks like duct tape takes about a month to work and works in about 8/10 cases. According to a scientific study (linked below) it is a more effective method than freezing.

Here are the links:

basic methodology (you have to scroll down a bit)

this is what the BMJ has to say on the subject - also contains a useful look at other treatments and preventatives

long but interesting scientific paper which concluded that duct tape was more effective than freezing

theyoungvisiter · 10/05/2008 22:04

BTW you can just read the top bit of the paper and get most of the relevant info - but it's quite interesting. It was conducted in a pediatric ward so the patients were aged 3-22.

It concluded that 60% of the patients in the cryotherapy group had full cures for their warts, while 85% success was achieved in the duct tape group.

They don't seem to know quite how the cure works - but it might be to do with stimulating the local immunity round the wart site.

All v fascinating...

shouldbeworking · 10/05/2008 22:39

My dd swims alot and had, at one time, about 7 verrucas. I tried all sorts including the Wartner freezing thing. Eventually they went on their own. I also swim alot and at the moment I have a verruca on my toe. I've tried treating it but it actually hurts less if I just leave it alone and I know it will go anyway if left. I know they are't particularly pleasant to look at but I honestly think that unless they are painful you may as well let them go on there own. Verruca socks are a waste of time because unless every person with a verruca wears them, which we all know they don't, you may as well not bother. They are horrible to swim in...I've tried them.

Original poster

shinyshoes · 11/05/2008 10:28

Thanks very much TheYoungVisitor for the info and all that have replied

OP posts:

ellingwoman · 11/05/2008 10:45

I'm going to try the duct tape for my warts. I have heard it being successful, also banana skin.

I had 8 warts frozen off last year from across my knuckles. They blistered alarmingly and I couldn't move my hands for two days. In the end I had to have the blisters punctured and cut away at the hospital. My hands were bandaged for a week.
AND the warts have now returned

So, anyone who is thinking of freezing, it's not necessarily the answer.

TinkerbellesMum · 12/05/2008 10:33

Of all the studies done on verrucas and swimming, only one found a link (can't find the site I read that on now). They're a virus and can spread under the skin like weeds. It's possible it's the same verucca that he had last time that's been dormant.

I have one on one of my toes, I haven't had one for about 10 years before it came up. I hadn't been swimming for ages (years) before I had it, I've no idea where they come from.

AlienEars · 12/05/2008 10:47

We've just got rid of a verucca on DD's foot after weeks and weeks of applying bazooka so I was interested in the duct tape idea.

I was fascinated by this top tip:

"Some experts advise that you should not use duct tape on the face as in some people it can irritate the skin."

Would anyone really wonder round with bits of duct tape on their face? For six days at a time?

Threadwworm · 12/05/2008 10:51

GP advised us not to bother treating DS1's verrucah years ago. So I left it and he now has a monsterous coppse of the things. I'm happy to leave them because they don't hurt and because in general it seems to me to be a very good idea to let the immune system grow and learn to handle the virus, rather than to screw up the balance with medicine. But I do wonder what other people might think of his gruesome infectiousness. Is it socially unacceptable to leave untreated -- as it would be with nits etc?

Flip