Wound Care Keep sores caused by impetigo covered in order to help prevent spreading group A strep to others. Good wound care is the best way to prevent bacterial skin infections, including impetigo: Clean all minor cuts and injuries that break the skin like blisters and scrapes with soap and water. Clean and cover draining or open wounds with clean, dry bandages until they heal. See a doctor for puncture and other deep or serious wounds. If you have an open wound or active infection, avoid spending time in: Hot tubs Swimming pools Natural bodies of water e.
To prevent group A strep infections, you should: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available. Antibiotics People diagnosed with impetigo can return to work, school, or daycare if they: Have started antibiotic treatment Keep all sores on exposed skin covered Use the prescription exactly as the doctor says to.
Once the sores heal, someone with impetigo is usually not able to spread the bacteria to others. Related Pages. Top of Page. Related Links. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Impetigo is very infectious. Check with the GP before you go into the surgery. They may suggest a phone consultation. A GP will check it's not something more serious, like cellulitis. If it's impetigo, they can prescribe antibiotic cream to speed up your recovery or antibiotic tablets if it's very bad.
A GP can take a swab from around your nose to check for the bacteria that causes impetigo. Skip to navigation menu Skip to content. High Priority Alert. Close alert. Informational Alert. Impetigo - Infected Sores. Is this your child's symptom? Coin-shaped sores on the skin covered by scabs The infected crusts are the color of honey Skin infection caused by a bacteria Symptoms of Impetigo Sores smaller than 1 inch 2.
There are three types of impetigo based on the bacteria that cause them and the sores they form. Each type goes through a series of stages. Nonbullous impetigo is mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. This more serious infection is much less common. Antibiotics are the main treatment for impetigo, but you may be able to help the infection heal faster with home treatments in addition to treatment recommended by your doctor. Clean and soak the sores three to four times a day until the sores heal.
Gently clean the sores with warm water and soap, and then remove the crusts. Wash your hands thoroughly after treating the sores to avoid spreading the infection. Dry the area and apply the prescription antibiotic ointment as directed. Then cover the sores lightly with gauze if they are in an area where you can do this. For a minor outbreak, you can use an over-the-counter OTC antibiotic ointment , Apply it three times a day after cleaning the area.
Then cover the sore with a bandage or gauze. Another home treatment is a minute bath with a very dilute solution of household bleach 2. This reduces the number of bacteria on the skin, if you use it regularly. A number of home remedies are also available at your drugstore or natural products store.
The open sores are highly contagious. Scratching the sores can spread the infection from one place on your skin to another, or to another person. The infection can also spread from anything an infected person touches.
Because it spreads so easily, impetigo is sometimes called the school disease. It can quickly spread from child to child in a classroom or day care center where children are in close contact.
For the same reason, it also spreads easily in families. If you or your child has impetigo, wash and disinfect everything the infection might come into contact with, including clothes, bedding, towels, toys, or sports equipment. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin can usually clear up impetigo in a few days and shorten the length of time that the disease is contagious.
Oral antibiotics stop the infection from being contagious after 24 to 48 hours. Like impetigo, cold sores are blisters that form around your mouth. You might also see them on your nose or fingers. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus HSV. Antiviral creams and pills treat cold sores if necessary. You can spread or catch the virus that causes cold sores though kissing. The sores remain infectious until they crust over, so avoid kissing anyone who has never had cold sores until that time.
Cold sores form in five stages. Learn what to expect after you see one pop up. Essential oils are liquids extracted from plants. Dozens of essential oils have antibacterial properties. This suggests that essential oils may be useful for treating impetigo, though currently there is no research to support this.
These products could have advantages over antibiotics, because some of the bacteria that cause impetigo have become resistant to current antibiotic drugs.
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