About this topic
Impetigo is a common skin infection that starts with a break in your skin. You may have had a cut, scratch, or bite from an insect or animal. The break in the skin lets in bacteria or germs. You often see impetigo around the nose or mouth and on the hands. It may look like a pimple or one or many blisters. They are filled with a yellow or honey colored fluid which is pus. The blisters may break easily. They can ooze and crust over. Your skin may be sore and itchy. The illness spreads very easily from one person to another. It is most common in children. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Only use the creams or drugs your doctor tells you to. This can help keep the rash from getting more serious.
- Keep babies and children away from someone with impetigo.
- Wash your skin often with antibacterial soap. Do not scrub.
- Do not share towels, washcloths, clothes, sheets, razors, or other personal items.
- Do not prepare food for others for at least 24 hours after treatment. This will help to avoid spread of infection.
- If you work with food or other people, ask your doctor when you can return to work.
- Keep your nails cut short.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Help with swelling
- Relieve itching
Will physical activity be limited?
Physical activity may not be limited. Contact with others may be limited. You may need to limit your contact with others to prevent spreading this illness. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Long-lasting skin injury and scarring
- Spread of infection
- Impetigo comes back
- Kidney failure
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Use good personal care. Bathe with soap and water every day. Wash your face, hands, and hair often.
- Change and wash your clothing often.
- Wash any cuts, scratches, or insect bites with soap and water right away. Cover any cuts with bandages to protect them from infection.
- If you are caring for someone with impetigo, wash your hands after each time you touch the person.
- Keep children away from anyone with impetigo. Do not let them play or have direct contact with the person.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of a very bad reaction if a drug is taken. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Go to the ER right away.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, or wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the wound.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my skin.
- I can tell you what I can do to help avoid passing the infection to others.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/impetigo.html ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Impetigo/Pages/Treatment.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚