Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that usually produces blisters or sores on the face and hands. This disease is mostly found among children. Impetigo is also better known as an everyday skin infection; in most cases, it will normally cause sores and blisters to appear on the skin. Impetigo is not dangerous in most cases and is treatable.

Causes of Impetigo

There are many causes of Impetigo some are :-

While the bacteria causing impetigo may have been caught from someone else with impetigo or boils, impetigo usually begins out of the blue without any apparent source of infection.
Children and adolescents suffering from eczema ( atopic dermatitis ) are especially likely to develop impetigo.
Impetigo may itch and can be spread by scratching. Kids can spread the infection by scratching it and then touching other parts of the body.
Impetigo is usually the result of injury to the skin - often by another dermatological condition such as dermatitis.
Staph bacteria produce a toxin that seems to make impetigo especially infectious.

Symptoms of Impetigo

There are several symptoms associated with Impetigo but they do not always present in every case that is handled. Some of the symptoms are age specific.

Skin lesions are the first sign and a characterized by groups of tiny blisters. Eventually the blisters will burst and seep a yellow liquid before forming a crust.
Itching blisters are another common symptom.
In children a single rash point may become visible. This normally spreads as the child scratches the area.
When the disease presents in infants there will be blisters that erupt easily and leave a reddened irritated area beneath.
Lymph nodes being swollen is another common indicator of Impetigo.

Treatment of Impetigo

The key to treating and preventing to impetigo is good personal hygiene and a clean environment. Once the infection occurs, prompt attention will keep it under control and prevent its spread.

An antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin, should be applied thinly four times daily. Polysporin can be purchased without a prescription.
Crusts should be removed before the ointment is applied. Soak a soft, clean cloth in a mixture of one-half cup of white vinegar and a quart of lukewarm water. Press this cloth on the crusts for 10-15 minutes three or four times daily. Then gently wipe off the crusts and apply a little antibiotic ointment.
You can stop soaking the impetigo when crusts no longer form. When the skin is healed, stop the antibiotic ointment.

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