Impetigo
Impetigo (im-puh-TIE-go) is a common and highly contagious skin infection that mainly affects infants and children. Impetigo usually appears as red sores on the face, especially around a child’s nose and mouth, and on hands and feet. The sores burst and develop honey-colored crusts.
Treatment with antibiotics is generally recommended to help prevent the spread of impetigo to others. It’s important to keep your child home from school or day care until he or she is no longer contagious — usually 24- 48 hours after you begin antibiotic treatment.
Depending on the adults working environment, these bacterial blisters can develop on any age adult also. Ask for prevention methods.
Classic signs and symptoms of impetigo involve red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days and then form a yellowish-brown crust. The sores usually occur around the nose and mouth but can be spread to other areas of the body by fingers, clothing and towels. Itching and soreness are generally mild.
A less common form of the disorder, called bullous impetigo, may feature larger blisters that occur on the trunk of infants and young children.
A more serious form of impetigo, called ecthyma, penetrates deeper into the skin — causing painful fluid- or pus-filled sores that turn into deep ulcers.
When to see a doctor
If you suspect that you or your child has impetigo, consult your family doctor, your child’s pediatrician or a dermatologist.
Causes
You’re exposed to the bacteria that cause impetigo when you come into contact with the sores of someone who’s infected or with items they’ve touched — such as clothing, bed linen, towels and even toys.
Risk factors
Factors that increase the risk of impetigo include:
Age. Impetigo most commonly occurs in children ages 2 to 5.
Crowded conditions. Impetigo spreads easily in schools and child care settings.
Warm, humid weather. Impetigo infections are more common in summer.
Certain sports. Participation in sports that involve skin-to-skin contact, such as football or wrestling, increases your risk of developing impetigo.
Broken skin. The bacteria that cause impetigo often enter your skin through a small skin injury, insect bite or rash.
Adults and people with diabetes or a weakened immune system are more likely to develop ecthyma.
Complications
Impetigo typically isn’t dangerous. And the sores in mild forms of the infection generally heal without scarring.
You will want to consult someone about what foods intake should change, and other precautionary measures, since once you have had impetigo you are more prone to develop an auto immune disorder.
Rarely, complications of impetigo include:
Cellulitis. This potentially serious infection affects the tissues underlying your skin and eventually may spread to your lymph nodes and bloodstream. Untreated cellulitis can quickly become life-threatening.
Kidney problems. One of the types of bacteria that because impetigo can also damage your kidneys.
Scarring. The ulcers associated with ecthyma can leave scars.
Doctors or your health care professional usually diagnose impetigo by looking at the distinctive sores. Lab tests generally aren’t necessary.
IF you have any concerns about this, or how to prevent an auto immune disease please contact us.
Health and Wellness Associates
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HealthWellnessAssociates@gmail.com
