Impetigo, an Infection You Need to Know About

I remember the first time I saw a funny rash on my daughter and tried to figure out what it was. I had been asking people if they knew what it could be or how I should treat it. One mom asked me if it was impetigo. I had never heard of impetigo, and upon further investigation I was able to determine it was not impetigo; however I learned how I needed to know the signs of impetigo and how to treat my children should they acquire this skin infection. In this article I will cover the signs and treatment of impetigo in your children.

Impetigo is a type of skin infection that mainly affects children. The bacteria streptococci are allowed in the skin by entering through a cut or scrape. After the bacteria are inside the wound, the infection begins. The infection most commonly occurs on the face; however it can infect any part of the body. The infection impetigo is very contagious and can be spread rapidly by contact with the bacteria. The infection can not only be spread to others, but also to other parts of the body it has already infected. Impetigo is a very rapidly spread disease.

The infection first appears as a sore that gets worse instead of better. Since the bacteria can enter through the tiniest scrape, you may not have even been aware of the opening in the skin. The sore will blister at first. Then the sore will begin to ooze pus for a few days. After the oozing stops, a crust will form over the sore that is very sticky. The sores become itchy and by itching and scratching the sore, you may spread the infection to other parts of your body.

Proper hygiene is very important to control and limit the spread of impetigo. To limit its spread and allow the infection to be removed from your body, follow this process. First you need to keep the area of infection very clean. Washing the area often throughout the day with soap will keep the skin clean and remove any bacteria that are on the surface. Once a day you should make a bleach soak to use on the infected area. Mix one tablespoon of bleach into one quart of water. Soak the affected area for 20 minutes. Once the soaking is complete, you can remove any scabs. Then apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin to the affected area. You should try to apply the ointment three to four times a day. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse the area before the application, and dry the skin by patting it.

Try your best to never touch the infected sores. Wash your hands thorough throughout the day to remove any bacteria that you may have picked up. Use your own towels and wash them frequently with hot water.

If you cannot control the infection by these controls, you may need to see your doctor. The doctor can prescribe an oral antibiotic or a stronger topical antibiotic and give you specific instructions to clear up the infections. Impetigo is not a fun experience, but by maintaining proper hygiene you can easily control the disease.