Molloscum

Updated on March 09, 2009
J.K. asks from Rutherford, NJ
10 answers

Has anyone ever dealth with molloscum contagiosum on their children. It looks like pimples and can spread over their body. The ped. says to leave it alone, the derm. can treat it. Some moms at preschool freaked out when another girl got it.

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S.B.

answers from New York on

Hi, J.. I haven't dealt with them with my daughter, but I've had them recently; 2 in the past 2 years. Depending on where they are, they can be easily removed. I had 1 on each of my eyelids; one on top and one on bottom, on both eyes! It really was nothing and can be expected to come back...hence, the contagiosum. It's really not that big a deal. My derm and opthalmologist both told me that they're just something I create...lucky me.

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A.H.

answers from New York on

my daughter had it on her tummy and I freaked out.. I didn't tell anyone.. and the doc said just leave it alone. It went away in about 6 months...
my son had it about 2 year later on his face. he was in 3rd grade and it bothered him. the derm took them off.. because he wanted them gone. it was an easy procedure AND my son was happy. don't tell anyone..yes its contagious.. but it doesn;t hurt or bother anyone.. good luck.. i put calamine lotion of the ones on her belly.. it didn't do anything.. but made me feel like i was doing something..

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K.P.

answers from New York on

My sisters and I all had this when we were little. It took ages for a correct diagnosis (sea lice, skin abrasion, etc) and during that time we caught it from my middle sister! That being said it is HIGHLY contagious! If your child scratches the bumps and touches another person it can spread- including through bath water. My youngest sister and I were treated with a topical solution (smelled like polish remover) that was literally painted on the bumps. They dried up and fell off. The "carrier monkey" had a minor surgical treatment to remove each and every one. Get your child to a dermatologist immediately. It's contagious and painful in the advanced stages.

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D.E.

answers from New York on

My 7 year old had it last year and we tried freezing it twice (It hurt really bad-:( he could not sit stil to let the dermatologist zap the spots perfectly. I then dfabbed calendula ointment twice a day on the spots and they did go away and did not return. My son has dark skin so if you do freeze them they can scar - leaving light dots.

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D.S.

answers from New York on

Hey J.,

Last year a little boy at my nursery school had it. It looks like warts and at first when I noticed it the mother said it was an allergic reaction. I finally insisted she take him to a dermatologist and he was diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum. It is contagious through skin to skin contact so I would advise her to go to a dermatologist and treat it. This little boy had it on his face and neck so there was no way to cover it. Treatment was a topical cream and cleared it up quickly. The little boy was not allowed to return to school until he was cleared from the dermatologist and no longer contagious because of where it was located on his body. I am not sure but I think as long as it is covered it cannot be spread, but like I said this child had it all over his face. Like warts I believe it is caused from a virus. If these mother's who freaked out looked it up online it is pretty scary looking, but this little boy's was not severe and cleared up quickly.

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R.E.

answers from New York on

yes, my daughter had it when she was 4, she's now 9. it is contagious, but it will go away after time (could take up to 2 years) on its own. it's a virus, and related to warts. change her towels daily and her PJ's too. Sometimes it's a reaction to an innoculation (although only a holistic md will tell you that). We did have it treated by a dermatologist. It hurt lots after the treatment (they basically burn them off). This helped with the look, but the virus is still there. It also depends how many there are. i would say that my daughter only had abt. a dozen that were noticeable to others. If on the face, i wouldn't touch them...don't pop them, it will make them spread. Sometimes it's described as a marriage between a chicken pock and a wart...both virus'. good luck, and if you have any other q's, let me know.

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J.O.

answers from New York on

Two of my kids had it last year, not a big deal at all. My ped said that if we want the bumps to go away sooner, we could pop them and wash them well with betadine until they healed...we chose just to let the virus run its course - 6 months for our oldest, just 2 months for our youngest. It started in the warm zones and then moved to extremities and then was gone.

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H.P.

answers from New York on

Two children in my daughter's preschool class had it. It is very contagious and I believe they don't want kids with it in swimming pools and also, not to touch other kids with an open sore. My friend's son had treatment and it took a long time until it went away. I think they freeze the sores or something like that. Good luck.

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M.B.

answers from Utica on

My oldest boy had the molloscums. Because he and my youngest bathed, then he got it. They do look like warts, until they "come to a head". It is a virus and they will just go away. I think it was almost 6 months for my oldest and my youngest I cant remember. My oldest had them around one ear and then on his bottom, but no where that he would be in contact with anyone. My youngest had them more on his trunk and arm pit. Maybe I am too relaxed about them, but I just waited it out. You just need to keep an eye on them and see if they spread. If you have more than one child, dont let them bath together. We didnt go to a dermatologist. My ped said to leave alone and wait. One of the "pimples" began to hurt my son, it was on his bottom. My husband and I squeezed it to "release pressure" It went away in a few days. Do what you think is best. I probably would be more worried if they are on the hands or arms....where clothing wouldnt cover. Its not the childs fault, so it would be disappointing to keep them from school. Good Luck.....

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S.D.

answers from New York on

My son had it and it eventually went away. It stayed with him (getting worse every week) for about 1 year then just as quickly just vanished.
We went to a dematologist who gave us a cream, but after reading the packaging, I decided not to treat it and let it run it course- and I am glad I did, b/c side effects of meds on little kids was not known- which scares me!

It is yucky to look at, but kids don't know (they only reason we went to the demotologist and thought about the treatment was b/c me son started to notce them and pick at it- so then I worrried about scaring)

Good luck

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