When Jacob was around one and a half years old, we noticed what we thought we little warts on the back of his knee.
They started out as just a couple but steadily over the course of a few weeks, spread in numbers so that he had some large ugly looking ones side by side with other smaller, newer ones that were just beginning to grow.
Jacob didn’t seem to be at all bothered by them initially as they weren’t sore. But because they were getting worse, we took him to the doctor who told us that they weren’t warts in fact, but ‘Molluscum Contagiosum’, a viral skin infection.
As soon as Jacob was aware of them, he started to scratch them during the night which made them bleed and sore and drove him nuts. We were also extremely conscious of them, particularly of their appearance, and covered him up during the summer or if we went swimming.
(Via Dermis.net)
I ran to the doctor with him on a couple of occasions because I thought they were getting worse, or because I felt so sorry for Jacob and the discomfort he was experiencing that I wanted to find a miracle solution to the problem.
But the answer was always the same: you just need to wait.
The doctor told us that the MC lesions would naturally run their course and clear up by themselves but to expect that to take up to eighteen months.. and that is precisely how long it took them to go.
Our daughter, now one and a half, is just starting to show signs of MC on her thigh so we know what is ahead of her and us. Our plan is to keep the area clean and dry and if it starts to bother her, apply some anti-itch cream and cover it with a large plaster or bandage so that she can’t get to it with her little nails.
And wait. All we can do is wait.
Here is some information for you about Molluscum Contagiosum from the Irish Health website
What is it?
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection of the skin. It is common in children and is not a dangerous condition.
What does it look like?
Molluscum contagiosum appears as small, flesh-coloured or pink spots on the skin. They can appear on the chin, chest, abdomen, face, legs, and arms.
MC lesions on an arm (via Wikipedia)
How is it transmitted?
In children, molluscum contagiosum is transmitted through shared clothing and towels, or through person-to-person contact. For this reason, its transmission is associated with places like swimming pools.
How do I get rid of molluscum contagiosum?
Usually, in cases of people with normal immune systems, molluscum contagiosum disappears by itself, taking somewhere up to eighteen months to disappear.
If you have any concerns about your child’s health, contact your family GP immediately.
