Home :: Family Health :: Impetigo

Impetigo - Impetigo symptom, treatment, causes

Impetigo is a skin infection. This is a fairly common disorder among the population. It is usually characterized by small pus-filled blisters that form honey-yellow crusts. Impetigo is a honey colored crust that covers a well-demarcated red lesion. The redness develops into small blisters that gradually crust and erode. This condition is generally more common in children than in adults. It is mainly caused by staphylococci and streptococci bacteria and it is characterized by crusting skin lesions. Sometimes another bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, can also be isolated from impetigo lesions. Impetigo usually appears on the face, especially around the nose and mouth. Although it commonly occurs when bacteria enter the skin through cuts or insect bites, it can also develop in skin that's perfectly healthy. It is a superficial skin infection that occurs in nonbullous and bullous (elevated lesions) forms. Impetigo first appears as a sore, often on the upper lip. It may resemble a cold sore or fever blister caused by herpes simplex virus - a virus that can spread by direct contact and may cause serious problems in children.

Impetigo is extremely contagious. Anyone can catch impetigo. Although most cases are in children, adults can catch impetigo. It is most common in crowded settings, such as schools and nurseries. Although impetigo often appears suddenly without an apparent cause, it is usually spread through direct contact with an infected person. Impetigo may develop up to 10 days after the skin becomes infected with group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Impetigo is not dangerous in most cases and is treatable. It firstly appears as a sore, often on the upper lip. The hands and face are the favorite locations for impetigo, but it often appears on other parts of the body. There is usually no fever. Keeping your child's skin clean is the best way to keep it healthy. Treat cuts, scrapes, insect bites and other wounds right away to prevent infection. Use soap and water when bathing your child. If anyone in your family does develop impetigo, a few simple measures can help keep the infection from spreading. People who suffer from cold sores have shown higher chances of suffering from impetigo. Those who normally suffer from cold sores should consult a doctor if normal treatment has no effect.

A bacterial infection of the skin that most often affects the exposed skin, especially the face. of children. Impetigo often occurs in epidemics and is very contagious among younger children in schools, who tend to have a lot of body contact (hence the common name 'school sores').

Symptoms of Impetigo

The first sign is a red blotch that soon develops into many small blisters (or occasionally one large blister), which quickly break to form weeping, crusty sores. The infection usually spreads rapidly to nearby skin. Some sign and symptoms related to Impetigo are as follows:

• The first sign of impetigo is a patch of red, itchy skin. Pustules develop on this area, soon forming crusty, yellow-brown sores that can spread to cover entire areas of the face, arms, and other body parts.
• Blistery rash that spreads.
• Scratching.
• Over the affected area, patches of red sores may develop.
• The margins of the rash are usually fairly sharp.
• Lymphadenopathy.
• Lymph nodes being swollen is another common indicator of Impetigo.

Causes of Impetigo

Staphylococcus aureus ('golden staph') is the most common bacterium responsible. followed by some strains of streptococci. The bacteria can get in through a tiny break in the skin, where they pro duce a toxin that causes inflammation and blistering. Impetigo may be a complication of any itchy skin disorder in which the skin surface is broken by scratching. The common causes and risk factor's of Impetigo include the following:

• Bacterial infection with Staphylococci and Streptococci bacterium.
• Injury to the skin.
• Warm, humid environment, increases the chance to get affected by impetigo.
• In Children, impetigo mainly comes from living in unhealthy environments i.e. places which are not at all clean with very poor sanitation.
• Lice infections (like scabies, head or public lice), which cause scratching are also the main factor of impetigo.

Treament of Impetigo

Antibiotics by mouth are the best treatment, though antibiotic creams or lotions may be sufficient for small, isolated spots. In severe or recurrent cases the doctor may take swabs to identify the causative bacteria and check their sensitivity to antibiotics. Crusts must be removed by bathing the sores with warm, salted water, because bacteria can live in the crusts and the antibiotics cannot pass into them. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic or antiseptic cream, to be applied to the sores after the crusts have been removed. Impetigo usually clears up 5 days after the start of treatment, though oral antibiotics must be continued until the . prescribed course is completed. If streptococci are the cause. GLOMERULONEPHRITIS (inflammation of the filtering units of the kidneys) may be a rare complication.

Prevention of Impetigo

The source of an epidemic is usually unknown, which makes prevention of outbreaks difficult. To reduce the spread of impetigo. parents should keep affected children home from school and not allow skin contact with the rest of the family until all signs of infection have vanished. The patient's face-washers. towels, bed linen and clothes should be laundered separately and dried in the sun. Here is list of the methods for treating Impetigo:

• Dicloxacillin should be given as an initial treatment for impetigo because erythromycin-resistant strains of Saureus are prevalent at that time.
• The treatment of impetigo with hygienic measures is found very effective. Keeping your child's skin clean and bacteria-free can help mild infections heal on their own.
• The oral antibiotic for ecthyma and severe cases of impetigo contagiosa may be prescribed by the doctor in a some chronic cases of impetigo.
• Topical antiseptic lotions may be prescribed.
• Topical steroids may be used to reduce the inflammation caused by impetigo. A mild steroid or moderate steroid may be used.
• The infection is contagious. Other people may contract the infection if you come in contact with them. Use separate wash cloths and hand towels.