Impetigo in children

The unpleasant and contagious skin disease of impetigo can make life difficult not only for one specific child, but also for the whole children's group. You will learn about this disease, how it is transmitted and how it can be cured.

Impetigo - pustular infection of the skin. It is always caused by bacterial infection. The main "culprits" of pustules on the body and face are Staphylococcus aureus, acute streptococcus. Sometimes they act together.

The illness is rapidly spreading in closed children's communities - in kindergartens, schools, sanatoriums and holiday camps.

The disease occurs in adults, but in children it is diagnosed much more often. In addition, of all the bacterial external lesions of the skin, it is impetigo that is considered the leader in prevalence in pediatric practice.

Depending on the type of microbe and the degree of damage, the disease is divided into:

• contagious impetigo;
• impetigo vulgaris;
• bullous impetigo;
• impetigo bockhart;
• slit impetigo.

There are several other subtypes of the disease, but they are almost never diagnosed, because they exist only on the pages of scientific works, encyclopedias and completely repeat the clinical picture of the main types of the disease. Their treatment is no different from basic therapy, and therefore doctors do not bother to set such rare diagnoses.

Staphylococcus and streptococci surround the child almost everywhere. But this does not mean that every baby is at risk of developing impetigo.

Infection contributes to:

• wounds and abrasions on the skin;
• heat, high humidity conditions;
• hygiene violations;
• the post-illness period, when immunity is weakened;
• elevated blood sugar, diabetes.

The incubation period of the disease lasts on average 7-10 days. That is exactly the time it takes for microbes to adapt, suppress local immunity and begin to multiply. Impetigo is manifested by rash and scabbing. The affected places give the child a lot of discomfort - itching, burning, pain.

When the baby cannot cope with the itching, he begins to comb the rash, and the microbes are able to spread to neighboring areas of the skin. So is self-infection.

Sometimes in the liquid that fills the bubbles, there may be an admixture of blood. Pretty quickly, the rash burst and the affected area becomes covered with a yellowish crust.

From this point on, the unbearable itching stops, the crusts dry up and gradually disappear. In their place remains a small pink spot, which eventually passes without a trace, leaving no scars or spots.

Often a rash in children begins from above and spreads down. First of all, the nasolabial triangle, the corners of the lips, the chin are affected. In response to inflammation, nearby lymph nodes may increase slightly.

More discomfort delivers illness caused by streptococcus. A staph infection does not cause severe itching, after the bubbles burst, they turn into ulcers, a slight burning sensation can be observed during this period. The most painful is mixed (vulgar) infection.

In young children, the disease causes changes in the general condition - they may experience discomfort, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances.

Germs for breeding prefer a warm moist environment. Therefore, it is important at an early stage after the discovery of the first rash to completely limit contact with the baby water. The affected skin cannot be wetted.

At home, the treatment will include several important actions: treatment with an antiseptic, the use of drugs that the doctor deems necessary to prescribe. For local treatments, the bubbles should be opened and carefully lubricated with a cotton swab what is left of them.

Although the infection is bacterial in nature, antibiotics are not always prescribed to the child. In case of a mild and limited ailment disease, antimicrobials are usually not needed, antiseptic treatment is sufficient.

The most commonly prescribed are:

• Antiseptics - a solution of brilliant green (brilliant green), iodine, hydrogen peroxide.
• Ointments - tetracycline (eye), erythromycin.
• Antibiotics - "Ampicillin», «Amoxicillin"," Erythromycin ","Clarithromycin», «Cefazolin».

When impetigo is detected, it is necessary to report this not only to the polyclinic, but also to the children's institution, which is attended by the child - kindergarten or school. Staphylococcal and streptococcal infections, even for one pupil - this is the reason for large-scale testing and finding the source of infection.

Folk remedies are not worth treating impetigo. In any case, experts warn of such actions of parents. The complications of a neglected infection can be too serious if the string or chamomile with which the sores were moistened will not work.

And she is not likely to take action.If everything is done correctly, the treatment will not be long and difficult, after 7-10 days the problem will be completely resolved.

Impetigo prevention is quite simple and fits into the basic concepts of hygienic principles. The child must learn to wash their hands more often. A small child should timely trim the nails on the handles.

In children, especially in the first year of life, they are very sharp, and if the mother misses the moment, the child can be scratched with the grown nails. And the wound is a potential breeding place for microbes.

It is important to monitor the cleanliness of the skin, to bathe the child in a timely manner, to avoid contamination of the injured skin areas - abrasions or cuts. On the scale of the whole organism, it is very important to strengthen the child’s immunity so that he learns how to "repel" the pathogenic microbes. To do this, it is recommended to harden, take vitamins, according to age, a balanced diet, adherence to the daily regimen and the absence of strong stress.

See the following video for what streptococcus is and how to deal with it.