Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection in children. It is common between the ages of two and five (1). It is important to treat and control impetigo in children since it is highly contagious and causes extreme discomfort. Some may get blisters around the skin that could cause pain. Read on to know more about impetigo, its causes, treatment, and preventive measures in this post.
What Is Impetigo?
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection that is prevalent around the world. The infection attacks the superficial epidermis or the topmost layer of the skin on the mouth, nose, hands, trunk, around diaper area, and legs. It can sometimes spread to the skin under the nails or between skin folds. The infection is contagious and spreads when someone comes in contact with open sores, or liquid or pus that oozes from the blisters, or articles infected with bacteria, or scratching a wound site with nails containing bacteria of impetigo. The skin turns itchy and painful, causing extreme discomfort to the child. However, they should avoid scratching and touching the affected areas. Children with impetigo should be at home and not mingle with other kids at school or daycare. If the sores cannot be effectively covered, this isolation is to be done for at least seven to ten days or until the lesions settle. If the infection is only on one part of the body, take proper care to prevent it from spreading. As impetigo is a contagious disease, some children are at a higher risk than others.
Who is at a higher risk of getting impetigo?
While everyone has a chance of getting impetigo, some people are more vulnerable to the bacteria than the others.
Children aged less than six years as their immune system is not fully developed Those attending school or daycare Children living in tropical or humid climates Those who share towels, beds, blankets, or pillows Children taking steroids for a long duration due to some underlying health issues (like nephrotic syndrome) During warm and humid seasons Children not maintaining general hygiene like washing hands frequently
Impetigo can affect both boys and girls alike. However, knowing what causes the infection is the first step to managing it better.
What Are The Causes Of Impetigo?
Impetigo is caused by the Staphylococcus (staph) and Streptococcus (strep) bacteria, which attack by entering through any cuts, insect bites, and rashes on the skin. When the bacteria transmit from one person to another via touch or close contact, it could infect healthy skin too. When the infection is caused by both the staph and the strep bacteria, it is called nonbullous impetigo. This is the most common type of impetigo in children and accounts for around 70% of the cases (2). Impetigo can also be classified as primary and secondary. Primary impetigo is when the bacteria enter an otherwise healthy skin through a cut or wound. When impetigo is the result of an underlying skin condition such as eczema, it is called secondary impetigo. Let’s see how you can recognize impetigo from any other skin infection.
Symptoms Of Impetigo In Children
The skin condition is characterized by the presence of big blisters on the skin. Signs and symptoms of impetigo in kids include (3):
Large red blisters filled with a fluid, in case of nonbullous impetigo. The infection starts off as small blisters and grows, only to burst and leave patches of red skin that may seep fluid. The red patches eventually turn tan or honey colored spots, which may look like cornflakes stuck to the skin.
Clear fluid-filled blisters occur on the central part of the body if it is bullous impetigo. They are usually 1-2cm wide in size. These stay longer on the skin and may spread quickly before bursting. They also leave yellow crusts that fade away without scarring.
Painful and itchy sores around the blisters
High temperature, although rare
Swollen glands, also rare
Impetigo is a condition that does not go away on its own. It needs medical attention and must be treated by a qualified doctor.
Diagnosing Impetigo: What Happens At The Doctor’s?
Doctors can diagnose impetigo just by looking at the infected areas of the skin. The doctor will look into the child’s medical history to know for any underlying medical conditions that may be causing the problem. Also, they will check for any recent cuts, bruises, and wounds on the skin that could have paved the way for the bacteria into the body. To confirm if the child has impetigo and not any other skin condition such as scabies, the doctor may recommend a swab test. Swab tests check the severity of the infection and determine which antibiotics work best. This test also checks for infections such as ringworm and shingles. In a few situations, a child may be advised blood tests to see for the severity of infection and requirement of oral /intravenous antibiotics. Only after proper diagnosis will the doctor be able to recommend the right course of treatment for the child.
How To Treat impetigo In Children?
The treatment aims at hastening the healing process through a skin care regime and use of antibiotics in some cases. Treatment measures also include:
Maintaining a hygienic skin care routine. This includes keeping the skin clean, which helps mild infections heal faster.
Washing blisters with a skin-friendly soap, under running tap water.
Mild yellow patches can be washed using clean water.
Topical antibiotic ointments such as retapamulin and mupirocin may be prescribed in some cases (1). For most people, mupirocin alone helps in treating the infection (4).
Oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin, cloxacillin, and cephalosporins are also prescribed for treating severe cases of impetigo. Antibiotics work only when the entire course, as prescribed by the physician, is followed (5).
The best course of treatment would be a combination of medications or topical ointments combined with skin care at home.
Tips To Prevent And Control Spreading Of Impetigo
No person can be 100% immune to impetigo. Anyone who is exposed to the bacteria may have a chance of developing it. However, the chances of a child developing impetigo infection can be reduced with these precautionary measures.
Do not scratch or pinch the blisters to prevent the fluid from spreading the bacteria.
Keep away from people who have impetigo.
Do not share towels, beds, water bottles, plates, tumblers, soaps, and toys with kids who have impetigo.
Do not send the child to daycare or school when he or she has impetigo.
If you have touched the infected area, wash your hands immediately.
Always wash anything, such as towels, hankies, clothes, etc., that has touched the infected part.
Bathe the child regularly.
Always wear disposable gloves when cleaning the sores and applying topical ointments to the infected areas.
Keep the soap clean.
Cut the nails short and keep them clean.
If the child has a wound, insect bite, or cut on the skin, keep it covered and clean and do not let the child scratch it, as that increases the chances of bacteria entering the body.
Maintaining proper hygiene is very important to prevent spreading the infection. Remember that a child infected with this infection will be contagious until the sores are healed or at least 48 hours after the treatment has started and the medications have started working. You can also make use of some home remedies for impetigo, along with the medical treatment.
Do Home Remedies Work For Impetigo Work?
No home remedies should be tried in the case of a contagious skin disease like impetigo. Rather, the affected area be covered after dressing as much as possible. Eating antioxidant rich foods and citrus fruits can aid heal the lesions faster.
