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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

yup. No sleepovers!!

It’s a nightmare. And it scars!

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

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.