Your Childrens Health

Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection that is normally present around the mouth, nose and ears.  The blisters or sores that result from the infection can also show up on hands.  As cosmetically unappealing as it is, impetigo is a fairly common infection among children.

There are two different bacteria that can cause impetigo; streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus.  It can spread rapidly from one part of the body to another or from child to child through contact.  Though it is not serious, it must be treated with persistence if it is to be cleared up.

Impetigo appears as yellowish bumps or scabs on the surface of the skin.  The bumps often appear in clusters and may have a honey-colored oozing fluid or crust.  A child with impetigo may also have blisters on the surface on their skin, around the mouth and nose.

To treat impetigo, clean the skin with soap and water and then soak the sores with a compress for ten minutes.  Rub away the crust and pus when the crust softens with a soft, clean cloth.  You can cover the sores, after cleaning them first, with antibiotic cream three times a day.  The treatment should continue three to four times a day until all sores lose their scabs.  Contact your doctor id the impetigo seems to be spreading after five days, or does not respond to home treatment.

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This entry was posted on Monday, April 3rd, 2006 at 11:15 pm and is filed under Uncategorized, Infections, Medical Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.