Impetigo is a skin condition that tends to afflict infants and children, states MayoClinic.com. Impetigo rarely results in serious health complications, and very mild cases may resolve without the need for oral or topical medication. However, impetigo is highly contagious and can be passed on to others. An infant with impetigo should be kept at home until a doctor tells you that he is in the clear.
More About Impetigo
Impetigo can be caused when your infant suffers a scratch, cut or insect bite, says the National Institutes of Health, after which the skin becomes infected with bacteria. The most common cause of impetigo is staphylococcus, or staph, but it can also be caused by streptococcus, or strep. If your infant has impetigo, this skin infection may be characterized by red lesions that rupture, ooze and crust over, or painless blisters that appear to be filled with fluid. Itching may be present. More serious impetigo infections can result in deeper ulcers, says MayoClinic.com.
Impetigo and Infants
Impetigo can affect anyone of any age, but it's seen more commonly in children between the ages of 2 and 6 years, says the NIH. Bullous impetigo is the type of impetigo that usually affects infants and toddlers 2 years of age and younger, according to MayoClinic.com. This type of impetigo is characterized by lesions on the trunk, legs and arms and results in fluid-filled blisters. The surrounding skin may is generally red and itchy, but not painful or sore. Eventually, the blisters rupture and crust over. Bullous impetigo may last longer than other types of impetigo.
What to Do
If you think your infant has impetigo, don't treat her yourself--make an appointment with a family doctor, pediatrician or dermatologist so your child can receive a proper diagnosis and treatment, advises MayoClinic.com. Your infant's doctor typically diagnoses impetigo based on the signs and symptoms you report, as well as by visualizing the sores. If needed, a culture may be taken from one of the sores with a sterile swab and sent to a laboratory for examination.
Home Treatment
If your infant's impetigo is mild, her doctor may recommend simply using good hygiene until the sores resolve, according to MayoClinic.com. Wash the sores with mild soap and water and cover them with gauze. Also, wash all clothing, bedding and towels with which your infant has contact on a daily basis. Whenever you treat your infant, wear gloves and wash your own hands afterward. Keep your child's nails clipped short to deter him from scratching or picking at the sores--this causes impetigo to spread. Until your child's doctor says it's okay for him to interact with others, keep him at home.
Other Treatments
More serious forms of impetigo may require the use of prescription medication, says MayoClinic.com, either in topical or oral form. Medications such as mupirocin ointment, a topical antibiotic, and oral antibiotics are also used to treat impetigo. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises contacting your infant's doctor if impetigo sores increase in size after using an antibiotic ointment for 48 hours, if new sores develop or if the condition doesn't go away within one week.
