Impetigo in Children
This Common Skin Infection is Spread in Schools, Daycares, and Camps
Many parents of small children have dealt with bouts of this irritating infection. Impetigo is highly contagious, and quickly spreads through daycare centers, summer camps, and schools.
Causes of Impetigo
Impetigo is caused by two different bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The bacteria can spread from one body part to another, and from person to person. People with breaks or cracks in the skin from cuts, eczema, rashes, and insect bites are especially vulnerable to impetigo.
Symptoms and Transmission of Impetigo
While impetigo can affect skin anywhere on the body, it’s usually found on the face (especially around the mouth and nose), hands, and forearms.
Impetigo first appears as small, fluid-filled blisters. Within a few days, the blisters burst and leave small red spots that excrete fluid and eventually crust over into honey-colored scabs. People affected by impetigo may also have flu-like symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, headache, fatigue, vomiting, and weakness. The symptoms usually develop one to three days after being exposed to the infection.
While impetigo doesn’t cause pain, it certainly causes itching. It’s also very contagious and children can spread the infection by scratching and then touching unaffected parts of their own bodies or touching other kids. The infection can also be spread by sharing clothes, sheets, and towels.
Not surprisingly, impetigo is commonly spread in childcare settings and schools, and among athletes who play contact sports. Impetigo usually occurs in the summer and children age six and under are especially vulnerable to infection.
Treatment of Impetigo
Treating impetigo requires a trip to the doctor. The doctor may recommend treating mild cases of impetigo with simple good hygiene – keeping skin clean and preventing the infection from spreading. Moderate and severe impetigo needs to be treated with antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics. These drugs will help clear the infection within two to three weeks. Children can return to school once they’re no longer contagious, usually within 24 hours of beginning the course of antibiotics.
If it’s not treated, impetigo can turn into a severe skin infection and even develop into a blood infection.
In addition to antibiotics, the affected areas should be washed with mild soap and covered with gauze to prevent the impetigo from spreading. Keep nails short and clean and try not to scratch. Scratching and picking at the blisters, sores, and scabs will only prolong the infection and possibly cause it to spread. If one member of the family has impetigo, all other family members should wash often with antibacterial soap and be sure not to share clothes, towels, or bed linens with the infected person.
Even though impetigo is common and contagious, it’s not inevitable. The best treatment for impetigo is to avoid getting the infection in the first place. Hand washing and good hygiene can prevent infection, and cuts, scrapes, and skin rashes should be kept covered as they’re good entry points for impetigo. Children who are infected by impetigo should see a doctor and closely follow the treatment regimen to heal the infection and prevent spreading impetigo.
References
Mayo Clinic –Impetigo
WebMD – Impetigo
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