Seeing our little ones suffer with any kind of physical problem is never a pleasant experience and can be scary and heart braking. I thought I would share what I just learned about this skin infection. ( I do not pretend to be a doctor, or nurse or pharmacist at all, I am JUST SHARING with you what I have found about Impetigo).
At the beginning we thought it was hand foot mouth but it ended to be Impetigo.
As this is not an infection I was aware, I made some research trying to understand more and learn about it. My little one has it after all.
Here is what I have found, directly from ( the baby center web site ). I have NO CREDIT for the following text.
What is impetigo?
Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that happens when staph or strep bacteria enter the skin — through a cut or scrape, for example. It’s most common among children between the ages of 2 and 6 years.
Impetigo usually isn’t dangerous, but it can be itchy and ugly. And complications — like more serious skin infections, scarring, and kidney inflammation — are possible, so it’s important to treat impetigo promptly.
What are the symptoms of impetigo?
There are different kinds of impetigo, with different symptoms, but it usually shows up as a cluster of little red blisters that ooze, burst, and spread. Depending on the bacteria involved, however, the blisters may be larger and more resilient. The skin around the blisters may be red. Your baby’s lymph nodes might become swollen in the area of the infection.
Most often the blistering appears around the nose and mouth, but you might also see it on your baby’s arms, legs, or other areas. Multiple patches are common. As the pus dries, it forms a yellowish-brown crust or scabs that look like honey or brown sugar.
How did my baby get impetigo?
Pretty easily — impetigo is very contagious. Your baby may have picked up the bacteria by touching an infected child or some object that the child touched, like a toy or a towel. Or he may have already had the bacteria on the surface of his skin and then gotten a cut, allowing the bacteria to enter and cause an infection.
In addition to cuts and scrapes, the bacteria can invade the skin through cold sores, eczema, an insect bite, or other areas where your child’s skin is damaged or sensitive. He may get it right below his nose if it’s sensitive there from wiping away mucus. Impetigo is more common during warm, humid weather.
How is impetigo treated?
If the infection is very mild, your baby’s doctor may recommend that you simply keep the area clean and let it clear up on its own. More likely, though, your baby will need antibiotics to get rid of the infection. He musttake the full course of medication to keep the infection from returning. Instead of oral antibiotics, your baby’s doctor may prescribe an antibiotic skin cream to clear up the rash.
Whether or not your baby receives antibiotics, you’ll need to keep the infected skin clean. Twice a day, gently wash away the scabs with soap and warm water, and then pat the area dry. Use a clean towel each time, and don’t let anyone else use it afterward — or use a paper towel and toss it.
If your doctor has prescribed a topical ointment, apply it to the tender exposed skin. Your doctor may suggest loosely covering the infected skin with a gauze bandage.
Keep your baby’s fingernails trimmed to prevent him from scratching the area, which can spread the infection to other parts of his body — or to other people.
Call the doctor if the treatment doesn’t seem to be working after three days, your baby gets a fever, or the infected area becomes noticeably red and tender. If your baby keeps getting reinfected, talk to your doctor about how to identify and treat the source of the problem.
The doctor may need to do a tissue culture to determine which type of bacteria your baby is dealing with. To do this, she’ll take a sample of the infected area with a simple skin swab. When the culture comes back a day or two later, she can determine which antibiotic will be most effective.
How can I prevent my baby from spreading the infection to others?
If your baby’s impetigo isn’t treated, he may be contagious for several weeks. Once he begins antibiotic treatment and the rash starts to clear (usually after 24 hours), he’s no longer contagious. In the meantime, keep your baby out of daycare and other close-contact situations.
Be vigilant about hygiene: Wash your baby’s clothes, sheets, and towels every day and prevent friends and family members from sharing soap, towels, hairbrushes, or other personal items with your baby. Wear gloves when you apply his ointment, and wash your hands well afterward.
Make sure all the members of your household wash their hands regularly with soap and water. You may want to use paper towels for drying until the impetigo clears up.
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We consulted our paediatrician and this is what I highly recommend if you have any doubts with you baby’s health.
Good night.
Stephanie XO
chic.mom.in.the.city 