Index
It is not uncommon to hear about various skin diseases during life. They can be considered one of the types of diseases that exist most and that affect all ages. From mycoses and chicken pox, for example, that most people end up catching during their lives , to more serious diseases such as skin cancer . And one of the diseases that are common even in early life is impetigo, which in Brazil alone records more than two million cases per year.
Despite being a common disease in babies and children, it is necessary that some precautions are taken so that impetigo does not end up generating more serious consequences . But in order to know how to protect and treat yourself, we first need to know what impetigo is.
What is Impetigo?
Impetigo is a skin infection that can be caused by two different germs : Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes or, in some cases, by both germs. These bacteria can be incubated in someone’s body for about 4 days and, even without showing any symptoms of the disease, a person with one of the bacteria incubated can affect others.
It is a highly contagious disease and that is why the forms of infection are passed from person to person , either by direct contact with the wounds or even by sharing items such as sheets, cutlery, glasses, among others.
Although it can happen to anyone, it is much more common for impetigo to reach children under the age of 10 , with contact occurring mainly in group places such as at school or daycare.
To talk about the symptoms of the disease, we must first explain about the three types and how they act in our body. The types of impetigo are:
- Common Impetigo
- Bullous Impetigo
- Ecthyma
Common Impetigo
It is the most common type of impetigo and affects mainly children, leaving sores around the nose and mouth. This type of manifestation of the disease does not usually leave scars and its treatment can last only a few days.
Bullous Impetigo
In this case, the wounds appear as blisters spread over other parts of the body, reaching beyond the face, the chest, the arms, the buttocks and the abdomen of the person who has it. The lesions caused by bullous impetigo also do not usually leave scars.
Ecthyma
It is the strongest manifestation of this type of disease, reaching the deepest layers of the skin, with lesions with a lot of pus and causing pain. In addition, ectima wounds leave scars on people.
Symptoms of Impetigo
This is a disease with very characteristic symptoms and, therefore, it is easy to notice when someone is with impetigo. We can say that the main symptoms of the disease are:
Symptoms of Impetigo
This is a disease with very characteristic symptoms and, therefore, it is easy to notice when someone is with impetigo. We can say that the main symptoms of the disease are:
- Pus wounds that itch and burst easily.
- Reddish and irritated skin, especially in children.
- Lesions on the face, legs, buttocks and back.
- Rashes that spread through the skin
When detecting these symptoms, a person should see a doctor to perform the treatment.
Risk factors
Although the disease can be passed on to anyone, there are some groups that are more at risk of both acquiring and having greater problems with impetigo. Are they:
- People who live in very humid and hot places , as this type of climate facilitates the reproduction of the bacteria.
- Children , as we mentioned earlier, mainly before the age of 10.
- Elderly , due to weakness in the immune system.
- People with diabetes , also due to weaknesses in the immune system.
Disease Complications
When the impetigo receives the appropriate treatment, it is unlikely to present any type of complication, and it can be cured simply and quickly. However, there are always cases where the disease can generate certain types of complications, mainly due to weaknesses in the immune system combined with an inadequate treatment or even the lack of it. These complications are:
- Infectious cellulitis , which affects skin tissues and can even lead to death.
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis , a kidney disease caused by the evolution of impetigo bacteria.
- Dark spots on the skin , mainly caused by untreated injuries.
Although it seems scary, it is very rare that these complications happen and, if we take the necessary care, the chances of them occurring with us or our children are almost zero.
Impetigo Treatment
The treatment of the disease is basically done with antibiotics both orally and by ointments. A specialist doctor will prescribe what is the best way to fight the disease. Although the treatment is simple and lasts from a few days to about two weeks, it needs to be done correctly until the end so that there is no resistance from bacteria in your body.
How to Prevent Impetigo?
Because it is a highly contagious disease, the best way to prevent impetigo is to avoid contact with people who have the virus or places where it is proliferating. Avoiding sharing objects such as bathing suits, cutlery and sheets is also a way to prevent the disease from reaching you.
Both in adults and children it is very normal for some diseases to spread and cause some type of disorder. But while it is true that it is impossible to ever get sick, it is also true that by taking proper care, many of them can be avoided or at least not be a major inconvenience in your life.
It is the case of impetigo that, even if it is not a very serious disease, it can be avoided . That is why it is so important to know what the disease is, how it affects our bodies and what to do to prevent it.
See also: Scarlet fever: Main Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
