Impetigo

Impetigo is a skin infection caused by bacteria. Impetigo usually affects preschool and school-age children, especially in the summer months. And although it commonly occurs when bacteria enter the skin through cuts or insect bites, it can also develop in skin that's perfectly healthy. Impetigo often occurs in the summer. Some people think that children get impetigo because they have not been washed properly. However, impetigo does not result from a lack of cleanliness. It's most common among children between the ages of 2 and 6 years. Impetigo starts as a red sore that quickly ruptures, oozes for a few days and then forms a yellowish-brown crust that looks like honey or brown sugar. The disease is highly contagious, and scratching or touching the sores is likely to spread the infection to other parts of the body as well as to other people. It is more likely to show up on skin that is already irritated or raw from eczema , poison ivy, or a skin allergy to soap or makeup.ouching the infected skin and then touching another part of the body can spread the infection to that spot. Because kids in preschool and elementary school have lots of close contact with other kids, impetigo occurs most commonly in them, but anyone can get it.

Impetigo, a contagious skin infection that usually produces blisters or sores on the face and hands, is one of the most common skin infections among kids. These fairly common bacteria are found on the skin of healthy people. The lesions are often grouped and have a red base. The lesions open and become crusty and have a "honey-color," which is typical of impetigo. Impetigo is very contagious and can be spread throughout a household, with children reinfecting themselves or other family members. Impetigo is contagious and can be spread to others through close contact or by sharing towels, sheets, clothing, toys, or other items. Scratching can also spread the sores to other parts of the body.Antibiotic ointment that is applied directly to the infected areas of skin usually cures impetigo. Sometimes antibiotic pills are needed.

Causes of Impetigo

The common Causes of Impetigo :

Impetigo is usually the result of injury to the skin - often by another dermatological condition such as dermatitis .
Children and adolescents suffering from eczema ( atopic dermatitis ) are especially likely to develop impetigo.
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.
Staph bacteria produce a toxin that seems to make impetigo especially infectious.

Symptoms of Impetigo

Some Symptoms of Impetigo :

In infants, a single or possibly multiple blisters filled with pus, easy to pop and when broken leave a reddish raw-looking base.
Rash (may begin as a single spot, but if child digs at it, it may spread to other areas).
Lymphadenopathy .

Treatment of Impetigo

Antibiotics taken by mouth usually clear up impetigo in four or five days. It's important for the antibiotic to be taken faithfully until the prescribed supply is completely used up.
You can stop soaking the impetigo when crusts no longer form. When the skin is healed, stop the antibiotic ointment.
An antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin, should be applied thinly four times daily. Polysporin can be purchased without a prescription.
If your child only has a few lesions, your child's physician may prescribe a topical antibiotic applied directly to the lesions.
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.
Your child should wash daily with an antibacterial soap to help decrease the chance of spreading the infection.
Fluoxacillin, cloxacillin, erythromycin

Nails Care

Anychia
Clawing of the Nails
Clubbing
Discoloration of the Nail Plate
Ingrowing Toe Nail
Koilonychia
Longitudinal Striations
Loss of Nail Plate
Onycholysis
Paronychia
Pitting of Nail Plates
Pterygium
Thickening of Nail Plate
Transverse Ridges

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