Molluscum Contagiosum

Poor little Brandon has had a few wart type spots appearing on his arm and body which appear to be spreading and causing us some concern. After a second trip to the doctors they finally diagnosed it as Molluscum Contagiosum (which I had never heard of). So a quick google and I discover that:

 

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a viral infection that affects the skin. It most commonly affects children, although it can occur at any age. Usually, the only symptom of MC is a number of small, firm, raised papules (spots) that develop on the skin. They are not painful, but can be itchy. Although the spots can look unpleasant, MC is generally a harmless condition that will normally resolve in a few months without any specific treatment.

 

The GP advised that the NHS do not treat this skin condition in people who are otherwise healthy, individual spots usually clear up within two months. However, it is common for the condition to spread around the body, so it can take up to 18 months or more for the condition to resolve completely.

Routine treatment for MC, particularly in children, is generally not recommended because:

• the infection usually clears up on its own
• the infection does not normally cause any symptoms other than the spots
• the infection does not usually interfere with everyday activities, such as going to work, swimming or playing sports
• treatments can be painful and may cause scarring or damage to the surrounding skin

So for now we just need to keep and eye in him and cover the wart type spots with plasters to try and prevent them from spreading. If we really get concerned and it starts spreading much more then we always have an option to use our private health care from work.