The effects of Impetigo

Impetigo is a contagious skin condition that is likely to affect your young kids than yourself though if you have impetigo is very possible you caught it from a child. It is caused by staph or strep bacteria and is prevalent in the summer or in hot climates. If your child does contract this infection distance should be maintained because close contact will cause it to spread.

The Types of Impetigo

Non-bullous impetigo is the impetigo is the usual form. It comes from both staph and strep bacteria. You will notice the small red sports and may be other areas of the skin the spots have begun to develop into lesions and then blisters. If you start to see yellow crust then you have seen the formed scabs and the end of the condition. It will usually take a week for the lifecycle of the disease on the skin. They are commonly found around the nose but can be found on the arms and legs.

Bullous impetigo is only caused by step bacteria and is a rarer and more severe type of impetigo. This disease causes lesion and the layers of the skin to separate. You will see blisters as a result of the change in the skin. This form is usually found around the reproductive organs. You should take care when touching these blisters since they are fragile and contain fluid inside them. They can easily break and can leave behind raw painful skin. The dark brown scabs signal the end of the condition.

Impetigo is very contagious and after just dealing with the disease itself it is important you understand the importance of dealing with the contamination issue. Toys and surfaces that are close buy to a child with impetigo are likely to be contaminated and great agents to pass this unfortunate sickness to others. Child centers can easily erupt into mini epidemics because the easy way it spreads, while parents can easily fall to this illness when dealing with their child, so great care must be taken if impetigo is diagnosed.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is quite straight forward though it can be difficult to confirm the symptoms are in fact impetigo. A number of other disease like ring worm and chicken pox show similar signs so a definite decision may require culture test.

Treatment

Impetigo is very treatable and appropriate treatment can bring great results to those suffering from impetigo. As part of overall cleansing of mild impetigo, prescription-strength antibiotic ointment mupirocin can be used to treat the illness. Non-prescription-strength antibiotic ointments do not prove successful in treating this condition especially if you are working with the more severe strain. Penicillin can help with the treatment. In the past staph bacteria showed signs of being resistant to drug therapy. Skin cultures can guide the success of drug therapy and if there are signs of resistance other drugs can be prescribed. Meet with Dr Kling to discuss diagnosis and impetigo treatment in either his Manhattan or Brooklyn offices.