Impetigo

Impetigo General Information

One of the most common skin infections in children, Impetigo is a minor affection that commonly appears as bacteria enter the skin at the location of a skin rupture, such as a scratch or a cut. In some cases, it may even appear after very small lesions, such as insect bites. Once the bacteria have entered the body, a blister forms and fills with pus, as the bacteria multiplies. The blister will then rupture, leaving behind a yellowish crust. It is important to note that this disease is highly infectious, and scratching the affected area may easily spread the infection to other parts of the body, but it also may be easily transmitted to other people as well.

The cases where Impetigo is a serious problem are rare. Typically, the infection will pass within a few weeks. However, as there may be more severe complications associated with the infection, it may be best that the patient is examined by a specialized health care professional. The contagious factor can be neutralized within 24 hours with antibiotics treatment. Maintaining proper hygiene is the best way to prevent the infection from setting in. Thoroughly washing the skin with water and soap, especially at the location of skin injuries, can easily prevent such infections. Also, it is imperative that such measures are taken to prevent the spreading of the infection if a family member is already infected.

Impetigo Symptoms

There are several types of Impetigo, each characterized by its particular symptoms. It may be needed to consult a specialized health care professional in order to detect exactly what type of infection is the patient suffering from, and to obtain the appropriate treatment.

The most common type of Impetigo is the non-bullous one. It typically starts with the appearance of a red sore on the face, around the nose or mouth. The sore does not cause any pain, however it may cause itching in the area – please note that as the infection is highly contagious, scratching the affected area may cause rapid spreading of the infection to other parts of the body as well. Soon a blister forms and ruptures, forming a brownish crust from the fluid oozing out from the blister. In time the crust falls off, and the red mark that remains will heal within a short time period. The infection will not leave any scars. In such cases, fever is an uncommon occurrence, but the patient’s lymph nodes may swell in the affected area.

The bullous variation of the infection is associated with the appearance of blisters on the patient’s arms or legs, and rarely on the trunk. The blisters are filled with fluid, and when they burst the liquid will form the same kind of brownish crust as described above. Again, there is no pain associated with the appearance of the blisters, but they are also itchy and may cause rapid spreading of the infection. Fever and swollen glands can be encountered more frequently in such cases. Severe cases of bullous Impetigo may leave scars at the site of the infection after healing.

Impetigo Treatment

A specialized health care professional is normally able to diagnose a case of Impetigo without needing further testing. However, if it is needed, the examining physician may require a lab test to determine the presence of bacteria in the infected tissue. It is advised that you consult with a specialized physician as soon as any symptoms or signs appear that may indicate such an infection. Even if the diagnosis will show that the patient is suffering from a different condition, he will undergo a treatment that will relieve the symptoms and will cure the medical affection that he or she may be suffering from.

As part of the self-treatment that may benefit the condition of the patient, it is advised that all the sores are cleaned with water and soap, preferably antibacterial soap. Separate towels and wash cloths should be used by the patient, as the infection can be easily transmitted to other family members. Also, antibacterial ointment may be applied to the Impetigo affected regions. At all times, the patient should avoid any activities that may spread the infection to others as well as to other parts of his or her body – such as shaving the area or performing activities which would rub the clothes against the affected area as well as against healthy areas.

As part of medicinal therapy for the Impetigo infection, the specialized health care professional may prescribe topical antibiotics under the form of ointments that are to be applied to the infected areas of the patient’s skin (Mupirocin is one such drug that comes as an ointment, with an example brand name Bactroban). Although ointment antibiotics have the benefit of lower side effects risks than the one associated with oral antibiotics, they also share the possibility of the bacteria becoming resistant to them over time.

As an alternative to topical antibiotics, the examining health care specialist may prescribe a treatment with oral antibiotics, especially in cases of Impetigo contagiosa or the more advanced type of the infection, known under the generic medical term of ecthyma. There are several antibiotics that may be employed to treat the infection, also taking into account the patient’s general health condition and medical history, as well as any allergies he or she may have to antibiotics. The examining health care professional will provide you with the Impetigo treatment best suited to your case, and it is important that you follow the exact specifications that the consulting physician has provided. It is highly advised that you do not end the treatment sooner, even if the infection seems to have been cured, as the bacteria may still be present at the location and is likely to cause a recurrence if treatment is not completed. Also, in such cases the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics, complicating any further attempts at treating the infection. Also, it is highly advised that, from the same reasons, you do not alter the daily dosage in any way, either by lowering or increasing the antibiotic dosage or by changing the intake schedule. The resulting larger or lower daily dosage may prove harmful for the patient’s organism, as well as inefficient for treating the infection.