Ah, summer. Time for kids to run around outside, swim at the pool, share toys and good times with friends, and - wait, what's that little white bump on Junior's cute little belly? Hold on, what are ALL those little bumps on his belly, and armpit, and arm?
The dermatologist confirms it: Junior has molluscum contagiosum. Moll-what?!
Molluscum contagiosum is a common condition caused by a type of virus called a poxvirus. As the name implies, it's contagious. Kids pass it on to each other by direct skin-to-skin contact. Swimming pools are often associated with infection. While any child can get it, kids with eczema or atopic dermatitis are at higher risk, and the mollusum often shows up in the same areas affected by eczema.
How is it treated? Well, sometimes they're not treated at all. Molluscum will often go away on their own, but it may take up to two years. Applying surgical tape daily to the spots has been reported as a successful treatment in some. Other treatments include topical retinoids, scraping (curettage) the lesions, freezing with liquid nitrogen, and applying a topical cream called imiquinod. An often successful treatment is applying cantharadin liquid in the doctor's office, that is then washed off after 4-6 hours. It causes blistering of the molluscum and then resolution. It's up to the doctor and the parents to decide which treatment plan would be best.
Oh, look, Junior's smiling again. Oh, he's laughing, how cute. Wait, what's on the roof of his mouth? Hand, foot, and what?!
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