CONDITIONS
SKIN INFECTIONS (IMPETIGO)
What is impetigo?
Impetigo is a common and contagious skin infection which affects infants and children. Impetigo usually appears as red sores on the face around the child's nose, mouth, hands and feet. The sores may burst and cause the development of honey-coloured crusts.
What causes impetigo?
Impetigo is an infection that is caused by strains of staph or strep bacteria that gets into your body through a cut, scratch, insect bite or rash on your skin. Impetigo is contagious, and you may get it if you touch the sores of a person that has it or you touch items such as towels, clothes or sheets that that person used.
You are at higher risk of getting impetigo if you:
- Have diabetes or other underlying immunosuppressive states
- Have a compromised immune system, which can be related to HIV
- Have skin conditions such as eczema
- Have itchy infections such as lice, scabies, herpes simplex or chickenpox
What are the related symptoms?
Signs and symptoms of impetigo include red sores on your body that rupture and ooze quickly for a few days and form a yellowish-brown crust. The sores normally occur around the nose and mouth but may spread to other parts of the body. The sores may be itchy and sore.
What are the possible treatment options?
There are various treatments, such as oral and topical antibiotics, to resolve the infection. To treat skin infections, Dr Ndongeni will prescribe an antibiotic ointment or cream to apply on the sores or antibiotic medication to drink. It is important to finish the oral medication even when the sores have healed as this will help prevent the infection from recurring.
If you have impetigo in small areas of your skin, the dermatologist will prescribe topical antibiotics ointments or creams such as mupirocin cream. If you have severe or widespread impetigo, Dr Ndongeni will prescribe oral antibiotics. Treatment of the underlying condition such as eczema, is important in preventing recurrence of the impetigo.
Skin infection symptoms differ based on the type. A rash and redness of the skin are common signs. Itching, soreness, and tenderness are some of the additional symptoms you may experience.
Swelling, warmth, and redness in the affected area should lessen within one to three days of starting antibiotics, though some symptoms can last up to two weeks.
Some skin infections caused by staph bacteria can be treated without antibiotics, but most treatments for skin infections include antibiotics.
