What Is Impetigo

What's impetigo?

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that causes pain on your skin. The affected area will look red and can occur anywhere on your body. In some cases, impetigo occurs especially around the nose and mouth, and on the hands and feet. After the rupture, the area can remove the fluid and then become yellow and brown crust.

How common is impetigo?

Impetigo is a skin infection that is most common in children, especially for those aged 2-5 years. Impetigo is less common in adults, usually in conjunction with skin conditions or other infection and is more common in men. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of impetigo?

Signs and symptoms of impetigo are common are:

• Red sores and blisters soon rupture, discharge for a few days and then form a yellowish brown crust

• Sores in the skin around the nose, mouth, or other areas

• Itching and pain

• In severe cases, fluid and painful injuries turn into ulcers in

• Swollen lymph nodes near the infection

The possibility exists signs and symptoms mentioned above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, please consult with your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have signs or symptoms listed above or have any questions, please consult your physician. Each person's body is different. Always consult a doctor to handle your medical condition.

Cause

What causes impetigo?

Bacteria are one cause of impetigo. You can get a bacterial infection when you are exposed to injury or contaminated fluids from an infected person abrasions.

One of the two types of bacteria responsible for causing impetigo is a bacterial strep (streptococcus) or staph (staphylococcus). The bacteria enter the body if your skin is injured, open, even by skin lesions that are not visible, because the skin problems such as eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, burns or blisters.

After having the flu or allergy that makes the skin under the nose peeling, children can experience impetigo. In some cases, impetigo can still occur in the skin which is really healthy.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for impetigo?

There are many risk factors for impetigo, such as:

• Age. Children ages 2 to 5 years old are at highest risk exposed to impetigo

• Crowded place. These conditions make the disease easier to spread from person to person, such as in schools and child care centers.

• The temperature of the warm, humid weather. This type of weather is the best growing conditions for bacteria to grow and spread. Thus, people living in tropical countries such as Southeast Asia higher risk of getting impetigo.

• Damage to the skin. Bacteria can invade the body through a small skin wounds or open skin.

Drugs & Medications

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for impetigo?

You can treat impetigo using an antibiotic ointment or cream that you can apply directly to the infected area. In some cases, you may need to get rid of dry skin by soaking the wound in warm water or a wet compress. After the dry skin off, antibiotics can penetrate the skin well.

You can eat antibiotics when you have a lot of impetigo sores that you cannot treat with antibiotic ointment or cream. It is important for you to spend all drugs prescribed even if the wound had healed. If you stop taking medication because they feel better, you can have a relapse and bacteria can be resistant to antibiotics.

Any test that is usually done for impetigo?

Doctors usually diagnose impetigo by looking at a typical wound. If your condition is not getting better, the sample fluid from the wound you will be tested to see what kind of antibiotics that might work well for your condition. Some types of bacteria that cause impetigo have become resistant to certain antibiotics. Therefore, samples need to be taken to prevent such reactions. If you or your child is showing other signs of illness, you may be asked to perform a blood test or urine.

Treatment at home

Any changes in lifestyle or home remedies that can be done to cope with impetigo?

The following lifestyle and home remedies that can help you cope with impetigo:

• Keeping skin clean. You can do this immediately wash cuts, scrapes, insect bites and other wounds.

• Wash clothes, sheets, and towels of infected people every day and do not use the same outfit as someone else in your family.

• Cut nails infected children to prevent skin damage caused by scratching.