pesky skin viruses in kids

[writersue]

Hi all,

We at Practical Parenting magazine are running a feature on molluscum contagiosum, a common childhood skin virus.

This virus produces pearl like warts on the surface of the skin. It is not dangerous but can be unsightly and annoying for eczema sufferers. It is also contagious between kids, especially in water.

Has anyone had a child with this infection? Please feel free to share any stories.

Cheers,

Sue
Practical Parenting

[Shelly68]

Hi,

My DD8 had this disease this year.

She started off in about March of this year with a lump that looked like a mozzie bite at the inner top of her thigh. We didn't pay much attention to it thinking it would go away, about 3 weeks later she said 'look there's more'. By this stage it had multiplied lots and there were about 15 (now on both legs). They were placed right about where you get thigh chaffing at the top of your legs.

She also said they were incredibly itchy, nothing we tried was working so I took her to the doctors. She just bent down, had one look (didn't even touch it) and said, yep, it's moloscum contagiosum.

We asked what that was and she said it's a virus that is somehow related to the HIV virus (so of course I freak out). Anyway, let's just say that my doctor does not speak the best english to I came and googled and found out some info (she gave me a leaflet on it while we were there as well).

The doctor seems to think she may have caught it from the chairs at school (she wears shorts all the time). I let the school know but they weren't too concerned as it's not life threatening or anything like that.

There is no treatment, it just goes away by itself eventually.

What we did was not let her share a towel etc while she had it.

However, in doing all that my DH came down with it as well about 6 weeks later, he got it all over his body and was just a big scratching mess, lol. But his has gone now thankfully.

[Kirsty2273]

Had to reply as have had amazing results with Imiquimod cream available from Melbourne Children's Hospital Pharmacy with a Dr's prescription.

My 3 yr old got it from swimming and we know at least 3 other children who got it had ended up with 18 mths of hell waiting for it to go.

It took going to 3 GPs for one to finally tell me about the RCH's cream. Applied 3xday and less than 3 mths later my son has no more spots and can finally bath with his brother!!! The spots do get worse before they get better but my son was covered head to toe in at least 50 spots - now just waiting for the redness to go and no more spots!!!!

I really do think GPs need to be aware of this treatment .... you get fobbed off with the 'it will just run it's course' rubbish - in the meantime no sharing baths/towels/clothes, no swimming and potentially childcare centres will exclude your child.