Children are likely to contract a number of viruses and bacteria from close contact to other children at school and daycare. Many skin blisters in children are a symptom of these viruses or bacteria. Although most blisters are not life-threatening, they may cause discomfort for your child.
Types of Blisters
Your child may develop blisters from impetigo, which is a skin infection resulting from either the bacteria group A streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus. School aged children are most likely to get impetigo.
Cold sores are small, painful blisters that appear around the face, mouth or nose. These blisters are very common during preschool years.
Hand, foot and mouth disease, also known as HFM, causes painful blisters on the feet, palms of the hands, throat, gums, inside the cheek and tongue. This blister-causing virus is found primarily in children ages one to four and often occurs in daycare centers and schools.
Causes
Bacteria can enter an open wound and cause impetigo. This infection is contagious and may spread from child to child contact.
Cold sore blisters in the mouth or face are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus HSV-1. This virus spreads easily in children who share eating or drinking utensils.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by two viruses, coxsackievirus and enterovirus. These viruses live in the body's digestive tract and may spread from person to person from unwashed hands and surfaces.
Symptoms
Symptoms of impetigo include blisters on the skin that usually burst, ooze fluid and then harden into a honey-colored crust. This infection can occur anywhere on the skin but is most common around the mouth or nose.
Cold sores initially form blisters inside the mouth and on the lips, which then become sores. This virus may last up to two weeks and lead to a fever, muscle aches, swollen neck glands and difficulty eating.
Hand, foot and mouth disease causes blisters that are red with a small bubble of fluid on top. Other symptoms may include fever, flu-like symptoms, drooling due to painful swallowing and sleeping more than usual.
Treatment
A mild case of impetigo will be treated with an antibiotic ointment. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic pill if the infection has spread. According to Kids Health, after three days of treatment, the blisters should begin to scab over. You should avoid scratching the infection and cover exposed blisters. Children should stay home from school for a few days while the rash is still contagious.
Cold sores from HSV-1 usually go away within five to seven days without any medication. Acetaminophen and cool foods or drinks may help relieve discomfort.
There is no medical cure for hand, foot and mouth disease. It needs to run its course. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may ease the pain and reduce the fever. An antibiotic ointment may be applied to a blister that pops, along with a bandage to avoid spreading the infection.
Prevention
According to Kids Health, good hygiene may be the best way to prevent impetigo. Regular baths or showers with soap to keep the skin clean will also help to prevent this skin infection.
Prevention of cold sores from spreading to other family members includes keeping drinking glasses and eating utensils separate from other family members and avoiding kissing or touching the child's eyes. Children and parents should wash hands frequently and as soon as possible after touching the cold sore.
The best way to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease is by regularly washing your child's hands and disinfecting any shared toys to prevent the virus from spreading.
