Question

What is impetigo? Explain what causes it, the signs and symptoms and treatment for this condition. How can this common condition in children be prevented or avoided?

Answer 1

1.DEFINITION :- Impetigo is a common & highly contagious skin infection. Primarily manifested by sores present on mouth, surrounding of nose, face, feet & hands, later it becomes crusts. It mainly affects infants & children, easily transmitted from one to another.

2.CAUSES :- it is mainly a bacterial infection. Mainly causes due to streptococcus aureus, streptococcus pyrogenes.

Besides this poor environmental conditions, low nutritional level, Diabetes mellitus, mosquitoes & other insects bite/animal bites,minor trauma can be work as a risk factor.

3.SIGNS :- primarily manifested as small fluid filled vesicles. It rapidly develops into pus filled blisters that raptures easily. Purulent discharge passed from those blisters, later it dries & form golden yellowish crust.

SYMPTOMS:--Severe itching, scratching of lesions, lesions are spread rapidly, fever, weakness, regional lymph nodes enlargement, diarrhea may occur.

4.TREATMENT:- impetigo is not a serious condition, it can resolves by it's own. It is easy to treat.

In mild cases it can be handled by gentle cleansing, removing crusts by soaking in soaps & warm water. Sometimes topical antibiotic oinments (such as Mupirocin, bacitracin) can applied over lesions.

In severe cases oral antibiotic medications needed to correct impetigo(such as -penicillin, clindamycin, cephadroxil, cephacephalexin) & topical antimicrobial treatment also continued.

5.PREVENTION/HOW TO AVOIDED :- As it is a contagious disease, so it can be easily spread from one to another.

**Avoid clothing, towels, toys, other household items from someone who has it.

**Wash hand regularly with alcohol based solution, if don't have then you can use soap water.

**Use clean cloths, towels, underwears, sheets. & wash it with warm water.

**Daily bath is mandatory & maintain good hygiene.

**Don't sneeze & cough in open air, put a hanky or tissue over mouth & nose during sneezing & coughing.

**Be careful, to get any cut & wounds.

**In case of infected one, don't scratch those lesions.