Impetigo

Impetigo is a highly contagious disease of the surface of the skin that occurs in nonbullous and bullous forms. Impetigo is a honey colored crust that covers a well-demarcated red lesion. It is mainly caused by Staphylococci and Streptococci bacteria. It firstly appears as a sore, often on the upper lip. It is usually characterized by small pus-filled blisters that form honey-yellow crusts. This condition is generally more common in children than in adults.

Impetigo tends to develop in areas of the skin that have already been damaged through some other mechanism. Impetigo usually affects preschool and school-age children, especially in the summer months. A child may be more likely to develop impetigo if the skin has already been irritated or injured by other skin problems, such as eczema, insect bites, or a skin allergy to soap or makeup. Impetigo starts as a red sore that quickly ruptures, oozes for a few days and then forms a yellowish-brown crust that looks like honey or brown sugar. The disease is highly contagious, and scratching or touching the sores is likely to spread the infection to other parts of the body as well as to other people.

Impetigo is spread person to person through direct contact with discharge from blisters. Conditions where the skin is broken, such as eczema, nappy rash, or even just scratches or insect bites, can make it easier for the bacteria to enter the skin's layers and begin an infection. Impetigo may itch and can be spread by scratching. Kids can spread the infection by scratching it and then touching other parts of the body. Children may get impetigo after they have had a cold or allergies that have made the skin under the nose raw. However, impetigo can also develop in completely healthy skin. A mild infection may be treated with a prescription antibacterial cream. More severe cases may require antibiotics, taken by mouth. People who suffer from cold sores have shown higher chances of suffering from impetigo. Those who normally suffer from cold sores should consult a doctor if normal treatment has no effect. Simple cleanliness and prompt attention to minor wounds will do much to prevent impetigo. Persons with impetigo or symptoms of GABS infections should seek medical care and if necessary begin antibiotic treatment as soon as possible to prevent spread to others.

Causes of Impetigo

Impetigo is the name for a skin infection caused by a bacteria called staphylococcus aureus. Children are commonly infected through a cut, scrape or insect bite, but they can also develop impetigo without having any notable damage to the skin. Impetigo usually affects preschool and school-age children, especially in the summer months. A child may be more likely to develop impetigo if the skin has already been irritated or injured by other skin problems, such as eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, or a skin allergy to soap or makeup.

Common causes and risk factors of Impetigo:

Bacterial infection with Staphylococci and Streptococci bacterium.
Direct contact with already infected person.
Poor hygiene, anemia, and malnutrition.
Lice infections (like scabies, head or public lice).

Signs and Symptoms of Impetigo

The symptoms of impetigo include itchy, yellow-crusted sores that look like pimples, often on the hands or face. The first sign of bullous impetigo is a large bump on the skin with a clear, fluid-filled top. When impetigo is caused by group A streptococcus , it begins as tiny blisters. These blisters eventually burst and leave small wet patches of red skin that may weep fluid. Gradually, a tan or yellowish-brown crust covers the affected area, making it look like it has been coated with honey or brown sugar.

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

Itchy skin.
Itching blisters.
Skin rash with discharge pus.
Pimples.
Skin lesions.

Treatment for Impetigo

A mild infection may be treated with a prescription antibacterial cream. More severe cases may require antibiotics, taken by mouth. Many general practitioners choose to treat impetigo with bactericidal ointment, such as fusidic acid or mupirocin, but in more severe cases oral antibiotics, such as flucloxacillin (e.g. Floxapen) or erythromycin or Dicloxacillin are necessary. The infection can be passed on until treatment has been started and the infected areas have started to heal. Topical antibiotics are less effective than systemic antibiotics. The patient is urged not to scratch since this exacerbates the impetigo. Parents are advised to cut the child's fingernails.

Treatment may include:

Dicloxacillin should be given as an initial treatment for impetigo because erythromycin-resistant strains of Saureus are prevalent at that time.
Mupirocin is highly effective against staphylococci and streptococcus pyogenes.
The oral antibiotic for ecthyma and severe cases of impetigo contagiosa may be prescribed by the doctor in a some chronic cases of impetigo.
Topical steroids may be used to reduce the inflammation caused by impetigo. A mild steroid or moderate steroid may be used.
The treatment of impetigo with hygienic measures is found very effective.

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