Getting to Know Impetigo, a Skin Infection that Often Affects Children Page all

KOMPAS.com – Impetigo is one of the most common skin infections in children.

This infection can be highly contagious and often appears as red sores on the face.

In addition, impetigo can appear on the hands and feet and if it breaks it can cause a kind of crust.

Let’s get to know more about Impetigo, its symptoms, causes, and prevention:

Also read: Diabetes Can Attack at a Young Age, Recognize the Symptoms and Causes

Quoted from CDCimpetigo is a skin infection whose cause can be due to: Streptococcus group A and or Staphylococcus aureus.

Impetigo is often also called infantigo. This infection most often appears in children ages 2 to 5 years.

Impetigo can spread if someone touches the wound or comes into contact with the wound fluid.

As quoted from Ministry of Healththe bacteria can spread through direct contact with sufferers or through intermediaries in the form of items that were previously used, such as clothes or towels.

Infection is also more easily transmitted if there is an open wound, such as a scratch, insect bite, or injury from a fall.

A number of conditions can also make a high risk factor for impetigo, namely:

• Diabetes
• Have a weak immune system, for example HIV / AIDS
• Doing sports that cause skin-to-skin contact with other people
• Live in a densely populated area

Another risk factor for impetigo could be the presence of another skin disorder, such as atopic eczema or scabies.

Also read: 6 Unusual Symptoms of Breast Cancer, Don’t Underestimate

Impetigo symptoms

Impetigo can occur anywhere on the body, but is most common on exposed areas of skin, such as around the nose and mouth, and on the arms or legs.

Impetigo symptoms usually appear about 4 to 10 days after infection.

Complaints of impetigo symptoms vary depending on the type experienced, namely:

1. Impetigo crustosa

Crusted impetigo is the most common impetigo in children.

Some of the symptoms of crusted impetigo, namely:

• Red itchy patches around the mouth and nose but don’t cause pain
• Wounds on spots due to scratching
• The appearance of skin irritation around the wound
• Yellow-brown scabs around the wound
• Red marks on the skin from scabs can disappear within a few days or weeks.

Also read: Characteristics of a Baby Allergy to Cow’s Milk and How to Overcome It

2. Bullous Impetigo

Bullous impetigo is a more serious impetigo with a number of symptoms, namely:

• Blisters filled with clear fluid on the body between the neck and waist, arms and legs
• Pain in the area of ​​the blister and itching in the surrounding skin
• The blisters burst, spread, and form a yellowish scab, which disappears after a few days.

Bullous impetigo is often accompanied by a fever and a lump around the neck due to swollen lymph nodes.

Also read: Natural Ways to Relieve Allergic Reactions in Children

Impetigo Treatment

Impetigo is treated using antibiotic ointments or creams.

This treatment is done if the infection that occurs is relatively mild and has not spread too widely.

Before applying creams or antibiotics, it is recommended to soak the wound in warm water or apply a warm compress to soften the scab.

If it is too severe, the doctor will usually give antibiotics in the form of tablets.

Also read: Itching due to stress, what are the characteristics?

Impetigo Prevention

To prevent impetigo, here are some things you can do:

• Wash your hands frequently, especially after going outside.
• Closing the wound to prevent bacteria from entering the body.
• Cut and always keep the nails clean.
• Don’t touch or scratch the wound to lower the risk of spreading infection.
• Washing clothes or cleaning objects that have been used, to kill bacteria.
• Avoid sharing eating utensils, towels, or clothing with people with impetigo.
• Change sheets, towels, or clothes used by sufferers every day, until the wound is no longer transmitting infection.

Get updates featured news and breaking news every day from Kompas.com. Let’s join the Telegram Group “Kompas.com News Update”, how to click the link https://t.me/kompascomupdate, then join. You must first install the Telegram application on your cellphone.