How contagious is molluscum?

[Anonymous]

My DD's good friend has molluscum. How contagious is this and is there anything we can do to prevent her getting it? They are in first grade.

[Anonymous]

Extremely and a PITA to get rid of. Reiterate not touching each other. Over and over.

[Anonymous]

Fwiw, one of my DC's had it several years ago and no one else got it. More recently, my other DC got it after an infection that I think is attributable to a weakened post-covid immune system. No one else got it from him either.

[Anonymous]

Much moreso if your child has eczema or other breaks in the skin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fwiw, one of my DC's had it several years ago and no one else got it. More recently, my other DC got it after an infection that I think is attributable to a weakened post-covid immune system. No one else got it from him either.

^ Other DC had a cut that got infected and then got molloscum near that site. He had had covid months earlier and has had serial illnesses and infections since then.

[Anonymous]

My kid had a couple years ago and nobody else got it. He wasn't playing closely with other kids too much though. Took some time to go away, but it wasn't too bad.

[Anonymous]

Our DD had it a last year and no one else got it despite not being too careful, and her doctor didn't advise any precautions other than not sharing towels.

[Anonymous]

It’s a nightmare. And it scars!

[Anonymous]

yup. No sleepovers!!

[Anonymous]

It's awful. I got it, have no idea how, a few months after covid while suffering long covid. The dermatologist said "Yeah, you were susceptible to this because your immune system is impaired."

Do anything you can to avoid it.

[Anonymous]

My oldest has had it on his torso for close to a year. No one else in our family has gotten it, including his younger brother, and they’re always play fighting/real fighting and also take baths together.

It’s not pretty but hasn’t been much of a problem. His pediatrician isn’t worried and said we just have let it run it’s course, which might take like a year and half.

Might be hard to police your daughter’s contact with her friend for that long.

[Anonymous]

My kids had it when they were toddlers. We think one got it from shared pool noodles/ floats and the other got it from him. We got one lesion tended to by a dermatologist and the rest of the bumps eventually went away on their own as they got older and their immune systems got stronger.

[Anonymous]

My oldest, with eczema, had some on his chest for a couple of years. Siblings never caught it. I think he was pretty susceptible due to whatever imbalance was causing the eczema. He wore a swim shirt in the pool, which was probably just me being paranoid about spreading it.

[Anonymous]

Very contagious. But...my kid with eczema had one behind a knee and one under arm. Didn't spread anywhere else on the body and didn't transfer to any family members despite this being a kid who loves physical contact. Pediatrician said it has to run its course which could be 12-18 months, and she rarely suggests doing anything about it unless spreading on the face.

[Anonymous]

Depends where the molluscum is. If covered by clothing and kids don't share bedding or towels, I wouldn't worry. If in a more visible place, definitely more important to maintain no touching or immediately wash hands if accidentally touch skin.