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General health

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Original poster

MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM

52 replies

taffy101 · 10/10/2006 19:27

My 3yo dd has recently been diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum (kind of spotty rash), which I am assured by GP despite the name is not very contagious at all so alright to go swimming, playgroup, etc. It is apparently viral and therefore no treatment available and should go away by itself but may take a year. She doesn't seem to be in pain or anything with it, is just unsightly. Does anyone have any experience of this and did it just disappear, if so how long did it take to go?

Also have looked it up on the net and found various miracle cures. Has anyone tried any of them in RL and did they work?

TIA x

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 10/10/2006 19:34

Ah I don't think you should go swimming. Ordinary activities such as playgroup etc are fine but I believe it is quite possible to pass it on in swimming pools.

It is actually fairly contagious but most people are immune to it. It is spread by direct contact, by sharing towels etc, or in water.

FrannyandZooey · 10/10/2006 19:35

Oh and sorry not to have more answers for you but I have no direct exp of this, I just had to research it recently as a child at one of my groups has it.

WigWamBam · 10/10/2006 19:35

Dd had it when she was a few months old, just one patch on her leg. It took about 9 months to disappear, but when it did it went away overnight.

I did read on here once that Elizabeth Arden's 8-hour cream was meant to do miraculous things for molluscum, but have never needed to try it myself! Several people said they had used it and it cleared it up within a couple of weeks, so it might be worth a go.

daisy1999 · 10/10/2006 19:37

it's ok to go swimming - you can't keep a child away from a swimming pool for up to 2 years

FrannyandZooey · 10/10/2006 19:38

This is from the British Association of Dermatologists' site:

"You should make every effort not to pass the infection on to others, particularly those in your family. Stick to your own towel, flannel and clothing. In addition, until you are clear, you should keep away from swimming pools and contact sports. However children with molluscum contagiosum need not be kept off school."

I did see when searching that other sites advise there is no need to avoid swimming, but I would not personally take a child who had it.

jabberwocky · 10/10/2006 19:38

err, Twiglett is a bit of an expert on this...

misdee · 10/10/2006 19:38

some people say scratching the tops off help.

but i say go swimming if its what you normally do.

Original poster

taffy101 · 10/10/2006 19:40

ooh I do have some 8 hour cream wigwam - I'll give it a go can't do any harm. thanks

OP posts:

scaldyandflash · 13/10/2006 21:36

Both my Ds have it. One very badly, on her eyelid now too. Just been reading about cure using nanosilver. Seems to have some credibility, but American site and would cost £176. How on earth can I check out if it's the real deal? Can't follow GPs advice to let it run it's course, been 8 months now and she's practically covered head to foot.

controlfreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaky2 · 13/10/2006 21:43

ds2 had this last year, quite badly (including on his willy poor thing)... they did take a long while to go. stayed same for months then got itcy and angry, bled then disappeared... from talking to others not convinced you can do much save sit it out. did try rhus tox homeopathic remedy... but who knows if this helped....

2ndtime · 13/10/2006 21:51

Touch wood, my DD is coming out the other end after having molluscum for over 2 years! She has been covered from head to toe. At times they have become infected and painful, poor love. About a month ago they were all very raised, pussy and painful. Doctor gave us antibiotics for 2 weeks which cleared theinfection and the spots have continued to shrink since then. Amazingly there seems to be very little scarring, which is a relief. The doctor was adamant that even though she'd had them so long and so badly there was no miracle cure. We have shared towels etc and the little ones continued the bathe together and the have not spred to other family members.

controlfreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaky2 · 13/10/2006 21:53

no scars at all for ds2 either....

bev1e · 13/10/2006 22:23

We've had this recently and was told by GP it was contagious, no cure for it (would disappear of own accord but could be anything up to a couple of years), to resist scratching it and to try best to ignore it.

Think dd had it for about 6 months when we suddenly realised it had all gone.

singersgirl · 13/10/2006 23:32

DS1 had it for about 9 months, DS2 for nearly 2 years - and it is finally gone! He has got lots of little pit-like scars, particularly on his bum which was very spotty. His got very sore and infected when they came to a head.

I know it is spread in water, but I don't think it's really practical to stop a child swimming for 2 years - he'd have had a miserable lot of holidays.

pointyfangedWeredog · 14/10/2006 00:28

Miracle cures? Picking.

Go swimming. Your kid might have it for eons. Some are more susceptible to ctching it than others.

It looks unpleanant but it's ok.

nappiesLaGore · 14/10/2006 20:48

just seen this. i saved a thread a long time ago on this very thing as someone posted a 'cure' she had devised... will try to find it and post it on here if you like.

nappiesLaGore · 14/10/2006 20:51

ok, found it. im afraid i just cut and pasted the one particular post so cant link to the whole thread, but here it is: (and just for clarity, these are not my words, but the words of another MNer)

Molluscum treatment that works!

Haven't posted this until it was absolutely gone but both ds1 and ds2 have had this and after various experiments have found a combination of the following used daily has worked over last 3 - 4 weeks if anyone interested:

Thuja (30) homeopathic remedy
Collodial silver spray
Manuka active 10 + honey mix together lavender oil x 2 drops, tea tree x 2 drops, olive oil x 6 drops on cotton pad/bud and dab affected area using new cotton pad/bud in each part to avoid spreading
mix lavender oil x 5 drops tea tree oil x 5 drops + unrefined sea salt x 1 cup all in bath

bath every day, lavender and tea tree can be very drying so olive oil important plus dry carefully with clean towel starting with unaffected areas first wash pillow/bedding/pj's daily my ds2 had the molluscum spreading to his face so i was very motivated to find something after docs said it will take up to 18 months to clear and nothing they could do. hope this helps someone

PanicPants · 14/10/2006 20:53

I'm sure this was what dp had several years ago, and he had them lazored off at the hospital.

I'll check when he gets back with the curry

PanicPants · 14/10/2006 20:54

Yes it was, but they were frozen off!

nappiesLaGore · 14/10/2006 21:02

yeah, they freeze them off in adults, but as its a 'self limiting virus' (to quote my doc) they dont do it to kids.
something about the pain not being worth the gain as it will go in the end by itself anyway.
and potential for scarring i think.

FatThighs · 14/10/2006 21:31

my dd has it round her bum. doc told me that ds can still share bath with her and would be unlikely to pass it on. Looks bad but just told to sit it out.

very common apparently.

you are not alone!

Original poster

taffy101 · 15/10/2006 16:24

wow lots of you have dealt with this problem and come out the other end ok. Stopping swimming now would be like shutting stable door after horse has bolted as dd had one small spot for ages and ages which I ignored!Only recently spread - it is nappy area so put it down to late toilet training for a while too, though she is now dry by day at least. Am trying the 8 hour cream for now, as I already have some, will post in a week or so to let know if it worked. If not will try nappieslagore's pasted post - thanks for dragging that out of the black hole of threads

OP posts:

Blossomhowl · 15/10/2006 16:28

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream really helped clear my dd's up fast

kamikayzed · 15/10/2006 21:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kamikayzed · 15/10/2006 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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