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Original poster

Molluscum contagiosum

70 replies

solveproblem · 13/07/2013 16:12

DS is completely covered with red bumps, in appearance it looks like severe chickenpox.
I took him to the doctor who said its MC and that even though its very contagious it is harmless and he can continue going to nursery.

Nothing can really be done and these bumps will go away without treatment in the next 12 - 18 MONTHS!

I'm a bit worried about what the nursery and other parents will think about this? I've had the all clear to send him by the doctor but it looks horrendous. Has anyone got any experience from this?

OP posts:
grumpalumpgrumped · 13/07/2013 19:49

We see it a lot in nursery, They shouldn't bat an eyelid.

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/07/2013 19:51

Dd has them all over her bottom. No doubt every time she uses school loo the next child is at risk, bu no-one seems to care.

NarkyNamechanger · 13/07/2013 19:52

I wouldn't be happy if my child caught this from him at nursery. You need to keep him in long sleeved tops/trousers to minimise contact if he must go back to nursery.

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/07/2013 19:53

Bottom and tops of back of thighs.

JaquelineHyde · 13/07/2013 19:58

This reply has been deleted

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ReetPetit · 13/07/2013 20:17

i would get a 2nd opinion personally and if another doctor agrees its MC and he can go to nursery get them to write you a letter.
i think narky has a point, i wouldn't be happy if my dc caught this at nursery either and would expect it to be covered as much as possible.

i have never seen MC widespread which is why i would suggest getting him seen again. one of my ds had it as a toddler but only had a couple of spots on his arm and i always covered them, wouldn't have occurred to me to think it was ok not to tbh!

Original poster
solveproblem · 13/07/2013 20:28

He's got them absolutely everywhere, on palms of hands, in the face. bottom, arms, legs... Nowhere is not covered by these.
I will definitely get a second opinion as I'm not sure myself he's got MC.

If the next doctor agrees this is what it is I cannot afford to keep him away from nursery until it goes away as I have to work. And to be fair he probably got it from there in the first place. I will cover him up as much as I can though.

OP posts:
ReetPetit · 13/07/2013 20:32

sounds more like chicken pox tbh! hope you get it sorted - would be easier if it was cp, at least its over and done with quickly!

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/07/2013 20:34

Well I can't cover my dd's. It's impossible. I'm surprised the whole nursery doesn't have it by now.

JaquelineHyde · 13/07/2013 20:37

DS1 had it on his legs and arms for 2 years so I suppose I should have kept him covered head to foot for all that time Hmm

DD1 had hers on one arm and on her hands, so I should have forced her to wear gloves to school as well. Hmm Hmm

This is completely harmless, does not need any treatment and will go away on its own (or you can squeeze the solid white head out if you don't want to wait).

Vanity is a horrible trait to teach children.

ilovepowerhoop · 13/07/2013 20:38

it doesnt sound like molluscum as that normally starts in one area and then spreads rather than all appearing at once. When did it start to appear?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/molluscum-contagiosum/pages/introduction.aspx

hpa says no exclusion period

Original poster
solveproblem · 13/07/2013 20:42

He woke up with a rash on Thursday, I took him to the GP who looked very confused and brought in a colleague to look at it. They couldn't figure out what it was and I told them the herpes simplex virus is going around nursery.
They said that that was probably what it was and gave him anti viral medicine.

The medicine didn't help and the rash got worse so took him to out of hours this morning, this doctor sounded very certain that it is molluscum c.

Surely if it was chicken pox at least one of these doctors would have sussed it?

OP posts:
MrsWildermac · 13/07/2013 20:43

Zinc and caster oil...slather it on morning and evening and it'll disappear in a couple of weeks if its MC!

ilovepowerhoop · 13/07/2013 20:48

it is not molluscum then if it came up suddenly and he has lots of spots at once. I would get another opinion.

Yawner247 · 13/07/2013 20:51

My dd had that when she was four months it cleared up really quickly hope it does for your lo too!!

ReetPetit · 13/07/2013 20:59

it doesn't always disappear on its own!! i have heard of friends dc having them removed at hospital. one had to pay privately as her daughter had a single one growing rapidly on her face and another had her ds one cautirised....

JaquelineHyde · 13/07/2013 21:06

solve it doesn't sound like MC to me, I would get another opinion on it.

SisterMatic · 13/07/2013 21:10

Could it be a sort of eczema? You dont normally get MC on palms of your hands.

SisterMatic · 13/07/2013 21:12

Could it be eczema herpeticum? Has someone in the class got a coldsore for the herpes virus to be going round?

Original poster
solveproblem · 13/07/2013 21:12

I should have said se probe to eczema and this rash is worse were he had previously had eczema.

Will definitely get another opinion on this!

OP posts:
Original poster
solveproblem · 13/07/2013 21:14

SisterMatic: that is what the first doctor suggested, the antiviral medicine is not helping though .

OP posts:
SisterMatic · 13/07/2013 21:15

If he already has eczema, and herpes has been going round, then it could be eczema herpeticum. Poor love.

If you Google EH does it look similar?

SisterMatic · 13/07/2013 21:16

Antivirals will lessen the outbreak but they wont stop it if I recall correctly. It will take a while.

Original poster
solveproblem · 13/07/2013 21:18

SisterMatic the doctor said the antiviral wouldn't help the existing spots get any better but stop him from getting any more. But they still keep coming...

OP posts:
SisterMatic · 13/07/2013 21:20

Can he eat and drink okay?
I feel for you both, this sounds awful.

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