Impetigo (also called impetaigo) is a contagious skin condition, characterized by development of blisters or sores in the skin particularly that of face and hands. Impetigo is also called school sores because it commonly affects the kids, especially those aged between 2 and 6 years.

Those playing close contact sports like Rugby, American Football and Wrestling are most likely to be infected by Impetigo, regardless of their age. A child with skin disorders like eczema and poison ivy is most likely to develop Impetigo.

The condition may also occur due to skin irritation, injury and insect bites. Moreover skin allergy to soap or make up may also lead to development of Impetigo.

Proper cleanliness of the skin is essential for prevention of Impetigo, which occurs through sore or a rash that comes up on the skin with repeated scratching. This can be seen in case of poison ivy, which can transform into Impetigo through infection. Antibiotics are typically used to treat Impetigo.

Impetigo Symptoms

Although Impetigo may occur in skin of any part of the body, nose, mouth, hands and forearms are the most sensible areas for this condition.

Impetigo, which is caused by bacteria, called group A streptococcus, initially appears as tiny blisters on the skin. These blisters subsequently start busting and transform into fluid-filled reddish patches.

The infected area gradually comes under the cover of a tan or yellowish-brown crust, resembling honey or brown sugar.

In the beginning only few fluid-containing blisters develop, but their number grows later. The cloud of this large number of blisters often stays put on the skin for little longer. Such blisters don't burst so easily.

Impetigo Causes

Impetigo outbreaks with entry of some bacteria (called Streptococcus strain) into skin leading to strep throat and Streptococcus pyogenes. The condition may also occur due to Staphylococcus aureus.

Nonbullous Impetigo was earlier considered as a group A Streptococcal process while Streptococcus aureus was assumed to cause Bullous Impetigo.

However, according to studies, Streptococcus aureus causes both the types of Impetigo with the involvement of Streptococcus in Nonbullous form.

Contagiousness

Impetigo may become itchy and spread into other areas of skin with scratching. Chances of rapid spread of Impetigo infection can be more in kids because of their tendency to touch other parts of their body after scratching the infected area.

Impetigo is a contagious skin disease, which can spread from one person to another either through skin-to-skin contact or clothes, towels and bed liners that were in touch with infected skin.

Impetigo Treatment

Impetigo can be treated with application of antibiotic ointment such as Fusidic Acid (Fucidin) or Mupirocin (Bactroban) to the affected areas of skin. However, antibiotic ointment can be used only for infection of small areas.

If Impetigo spreads to many other areas of the body, the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics such as Fluclaxaccilin or Erythromycin or Dicloxacillin.

The infected area heals within a few days after start of antibiotic treatment.

It is essential to see to it that your child takes medication in accordance with the prescription of the doctor. Taking medicine without following doctor's prescription may lead to deeper skin infection, which in turn result in blood infection.

When healing takes place, use clean gauze and antiseptic soap to gently wash the infected skin daily.

Remove layers of crust from your skin by soaking it in warm soapy water.

Cover the infected areas of skin of your child with gauze and tape. You can also use loose plastic bandage.

Make sure that your child's fingernails are short and clean.

Before you apply ointment, make sure that your skin is crust-free, considering presence of bacteria (causing impetigo) underneath them.

Prevention

You can prevent Impetigo by maintaining practices of good hygiene.

Make sure that your kids clean their skin properly with soap and water and take baths or showers every day.

Don't ignore the areas of the skin that have received injuries like cuts, scrapes, bug bites. Wash the injured areas and cover them with bandage.

Make sure that any member of your family, infected by Impetigo has short fingernails and covers the infected sores with gauze and tape.

Use antibacterial soap to check spread of Impetigo in your family members. Make sure that each member of your family has a separate towel to use. You can also use paper towels as an alternative to cloth ones till infection healed. This is one of the effective natural cure for impetigo.

Make sure that infected person's bed linens, towels and clothes are not being used by other member of your family.