Symptoms: blisters containing thin, yellow pus; broken blisters developing into open, weeping sores; pus dries to consistency of hardened honey.
Home care
A mild case of impetigo can be treated by scrubbing the crusts of the sores with soap and water, then applying a nonprescription antibiotic ointment at intervals.
Cover the affected area with gauze; this will help keep the child from scratching and spreading the condition.
Precaution:
- Impetigo is highly contagious (catching).
- Keep an infected child’s clothes and from those used by members; this will help disease from spreading.
Launder the child’s clothes frequently.
- If home treatment for impetigo is effective, continue it until all the sores are completely healed; it can take a long time to eliminate the condition.
- See the doctor if home treatment is not effective.
Impetigo is a highly contagious infection of the outer layers of the skin. It’s caused by staphylococcus and/or streptococcus bacteria. The germs are transmitted by direct contact when the child touches either an infected person or something that person has been using – for example, clothing, towels, or toys. The condition appears two to five days after the child has been exposed to the germs.
*124/84/5*
You must be logged in to post a comment.