What Is Impetigo & How Is It Treated?
Impetigo is a relatively common bacterial infection that can occur in anyone, but more often affects children. Two types of bacteria are known to cause this infection: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, or staph and strep for short. Impetigo is a contagious condition, and it is not unusual to have several people in a household affected. The infection can present in a variety of ways, from honey colored crusting, to fragile blisters. Infection can occur anywhere on the body. It can be at the site of an injury, such as scratch or insect bite, and is often found on the face. Those who suffer from chronic skin conditions such as eczema, can have a secondary infection after scratching that injures the skin and opens it up as a gateway for bacteria to enter.
How do we diagnose and treat Impetigo?
Generally impetigo can be diagnosed on physical exam by your pediatrician, family doctor or dermatologist. Sometimes healthcare providers will perform a bacterial culture which involves simply swabbing the affected area. This allows us to find out if different types of bacteria are present. This testing comes in handy because certain strains of bacteria require different treatment. Treatment depends on the type and severity of infection. Mild cases can often be cleared up with routine cleaning and a topical antibiotic applied 2-3 times throughout the day. More severe or stubborn cases need an oral antibiotic to be added for a period of 7-10 days. It is always important to seek medical advice and not allow infection to become worse or spread. Due to the contagious nature of impetigo, it is extremely important to remember to take certain precautions to avoid spreading, such as:
Good hygiene, with proper hand washing often throughout the day
Keeping fingernails short and clean to avoid scratching
Avoid sharing linens, such as bed sheets, towels, and clothing
Wash contaminated linens separately, and in hot water
Cover affected areas
Always use prescribed medications as directed
If given an oral antibiotic, finish the entire course
It is not uncommon for children to be kept out of school until crusting is dried up, usually around a two day period. If you or your child are being treated by your healthcare provider, and there is no improvement or worsening of condition, including but not limited to spreading of lesions, warm to the touch, fever or pain, immediately contact your provider to be seen.
For more information and tips, see our Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages.
- Lauren McConeghy, PA-C
If you enjoyed this article, see our recent one on, What is Molluscum Conragiosum & What Can Be Done? and Why Do People Have Skin Conditions They Didn’t Have Before?
The post What Is Impetigo & How Is It Treated? appeared first on Mid Florida Dermatology Associates.