| Impetigo: Causes and Treatments
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Impetigo: Causes and Treatments
Impetigo is the common skin infection which usually affects kids. Its main characteristics are the appearance of sores and blisters over the face and hands. Impetigo is caused by bacteria. This skin infection is contagious. It gets transmitted if you touch impetigo sore and then touch another person without washing hands.
There are two types of bacteria : streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus, which cause this skin infection. Kids of preschool or school age are the most affected. Summer season is the most favorable weather for this infection. If skin is already suffering from any problem like eczema, insect bite, skin allergy to any cosmetics or cleanser or poison ivy, risk of developing impetigo are more. Impetigo generally develops, if a sore is scratched repeatedly like poison ivy, on being infected turn into impetigo. Most common treatment for impetigo is keeping good hygiene and taking antibiotics.
Symptoms of Impetigo:
Impetigo can occur anywhere on the skin but generally nose, mouth, forarm and hands are the most affected areas.
Symptoms of impetigo may vary depending upon the kind of bacteria which has spread infection. In case of group A Streptococcus caused impetigo, tiny blisters begin appearing on the skin. Gradually these blisters open up and then appear red wet skin patches oozing fluid from them. After sometimes, yellowish-brown or tan crust comes over the patches and gives the appearance of brown sugar coating.
Other form of impetigo, which is caused by staphylococcus aureus, has large blisters containing fluid. But these blisters do not look cloudy; they look clear and do not burst for long time.
As impetigo is highly contagious, it spreads very fast. Especially with kids, it is very difficult to control it from spreading. They scratch the wound and touch any other part of body or anybody else, without washing their hands. Impetigo may itch and can be spread by scratching. Kids can spread the infection by scratching it and then touching other parts of the body. Infection also spreads by touching the infected item like clothing, bed linen, and towels etc. which have come in contact of infected skin.
Treating impetigo:
Impetigo is treated with topical or oral antibiotic medicines. If small area of skin has impetigo, an antibiotic cream or ointment is applied over that area to treat it. But if impetigo has infected larger parts of the skin or various parts of body, then oral antibiotic treatment is given.
Antibiotics are very effective, within few days of starting treatment, wounds caused by impetigo start healing. But the most important point here is to take the medicines as prescribed by the doctor otherwise it may lead to deeper skin infections.
Besides taking medicines, you should take care of proper hygiene of affected areas. Daily wash the infected skin areas with antiseptic soap and warm water. To remove the layers of crust over the infected area, you can soak that part in solution of soap and warm water. But do it very gently to avoid unnecessary pain and irritation.
In case of the child, it is advised to cover the infected area with tape and gauze. It will prevent impetigo to spread in case child is tempted to scratch it. Also it will be beneficial to get fingernails cut and clean. If there is no improvement in the sore even after three days of medication, or there is fever, then you should contact doctor. Also if the infected area becomes tender, red and warm, immediately tell the doctor about the development.
Prevention of impetigo:
There are general instructions which help prevent impetigo. First and foremost rule is to follow good hygiene practices. Always wash your hands after doing any activity or after touching the wound. Teach your kids to wash their hands properly using soap and water. Also get them take bath and showers daily.
If children have got some injury, bruises, cut, bug bite, eczema rashes, poison ivy or rashes by other allergy, take special care of that. Get them cleaned and covered.
If somebody in the family has got this infection, get him cut fingernails and infected area covered with gauze and tape.
Always use antibacterial soap and everybody in the family should use separate towel.
Person suffering with impetigo should use separate bed linens and clothing. After these items are used by the person, wash them in hot water to disinfect them.
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