Molluscum contagiosum - Another benefit of encrichment?

Molluscum Contagiosum -keep your children out of the water

This story seems to have slipped through the blogger net so I thought I should bring it to your attention. Read it, especially if you are a parent.

There is a nasty viral infection called molluscum contagiosum that is spreading like wildfire amoung our children and it is not very pleasant for those who are unfortunate enough to catch it.

First the good news. It will not kill you. Now the bad news. The disease is incurable and runs its course from between one to four years, then vanishes of its own accord.

The symptoms of the infection are unsightly spots all over the body which when they rupture, produce a thick white sticky substance which is highly contagious. The wound then heals up up, leaving small scars all over the child's body.

Molluscum can be passed directly - for example, touching the lesions - or indirectly, by sharing clothing, towels and flannels.

It can also be picked up in swimming pools.

Families with small children often share bath water and it can spread in this way.

"It spreads easily within families," says Professor Harper, whose own child has had the condition.

The incubation period from the time of initial contact until the spots appear is anything from two to eight weeks, so it's extremely difficult to pinpoint exactly when a child became infected.

Children with skin conditions such as eczema are more susceptible, probably because they tend to scratch the skin and pass on the infection.

Adults with a weak immune system, for example those receiving chemotherapy treatment, are more likely to develop persistent or intractable mollusca.

It can also be passed between adults through sexual contact, in which case the mollusca appear around the genital area.

The article itself is quite long, but I urge you to read it, if only for the governments conclusion that it "is not a serious condition and probably not highly contagious in schools'.

But that is not the way leading paediatric dermatologist Professor John Harper sees things. He said, 'Molluscum is rampant, it's affecting most of our children and, to date, there is no specific antidote.'

I wonder who you believe?

And where did this wildfire viral infection originate? Well it is usually found in countries suffering from overcrowding and poor hygiene such as Pakistan and Somalia so I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Oh. A bit more bad news. Although it is unusual for adults to contract the disease, it does happen. The following images are of a young Pakistani woman. You can read the source article for them here, along with the replies of Doctors who give various suggestions for treatment.

Those with strong stomaches might care to click on images to enlarge them

The Doctor known as the British National Party would insist on all visitors from countries where this disease and others such as T.B. is prevalent would insist they be issued a medical certificates before travel and then medically examined on arrival in Our Country. Vote for the only caring Doctor in the country. The BNP.

By the way. If you want me to keep digging for information then I need a new shovel. Thanks for the start Cat and Co.

Tags: British National Party, BNP, molluscum contagiosum