{"id":5842,"date":"2019-04-23T15:20:23","date_gmt":"2019-04-23T15:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5842"},"modified":"2021-06-04T22:04:16","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T22:04:16","slug":"14-early-signs-of-impetigo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-early-signs-of-impetigo\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Early Signs of Impetigo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Impetigo is a skin infection that is characterized by blisters, lesions, and crusty skin. It often hurts or itches, and it is very contagious. It can easily spread to other parts of the body and to others. It can be transmitted through the fluid in the blister and lesions and can be picked up from soft and hard surfaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impetigo often spread through daycares and schools quickly. The symptoms are usually mild, but severe infections are possible. If left untreated, the impetigo can spread and become worse. Treatment usually consists of oral antibiotics and topical antibiotic creams. Impetigo symptoms are similar to those of other infections, and they may come on slowly or suddenly and be either mild or severe. Once a person begins treatment, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Blisters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blisters <\/a>are one of the first things people notice when they have impetigo or a sick child. The blisters can appear raised or flat and are usually filled with a clear or yellow fluid. They appear in the area of the infection and can be broken easily. When they break, the clear fluid can leak out and cause the bacteria to spread to other areas of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can also leak on to hard and soft surfaces, which can lead to other people becoming infected as well. The blister may be painful or itchy. Once the blisters burst, new ones can grow in their place. The blisters often form around the mouth, eyes, hands, and feet, but can show up anywhere there are bacteria present. In children, they are usually found in folds of the skin or along the diaper area, where they are easily irritated. Picking the blisters can cause other infections and make the impetigo worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since impetigo <\/a>is an infection, it\u2019s not uncommon for those who are infected to have a fever. The fever can often appear before any other symptoms. Most people notice the fever and seek medical treatment without knowing the reason for it. The fever can be treated with over-the-counter medication and should go away once a patient starts taking the antibiotic to treat the bacterial infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fever is the body\u2019s natural reaction to an infection. When the body realizes there are bacteria present, it attempts to reset the body and does so by raising the body\u2019s temperature. If the fever gets too high, seek medical attention. Cool baths can also help treat a fever. Children are more likely to suffer from a higher fever while infected with impetigo. Dehydration is common with fevers, so be sure to encourage children and babies to drink plenty of water and do so yourself if you have impetigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Swollen Lymph Nodes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The lymph nodes<\/a> can become swollen if there is an infection in the body. The swelling usually occurs in or near the area where the infection is present. The lymph nodes filter fluid that moves through the body. When there is an infection present, they respond by swelling. Swollen lymph nodes can be sore and tender. In some cases, they can swell a lot and become very noticeable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other cases, they are not easy to see, but simply feel like tender spots in the body. Lymph nodes are often the most noticeable in the groin, under the arms, around the jawline, and above the collarbone. In most cases, the swelling goes down on its own once the infection leaves the body. Doctors may want to monitor the swelling closely to make sure there are no other underlying causes. If they become too painful, pain medication can help reduce the swelling and discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Crusty Skin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you look at a person with impetigo, one of the first things you notice is the crusty skin that appears near the blisters and skin lesions<\/a>. It may look wet or dry and may be tinged with blood. It is often yellow or brown. It\u2019s common around the eyes, mouth and any areas where the blister occurs. As the blisters break open, the fluid inside leaks out. It may leak out all at once or overtime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It dries to the skin and becomes crusty. It can be painful to try to remove the crust because it often dries directly over the blister and lesions. Since the blisters item and can be painful, many people pick at them or scratch them. This causes more fluid to leak out and form a crust. The crust may contain the bacteria and can pass it to others. The crusty skin can be removed with a warm washcloth. Apply antibiotic cream over the blisters to help clear up the infection and soothe the skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Lesions on Skin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people experience skin lesions caused by impetigo. The infection <\/a>breaks through the skin and causes red spots that can open up and leak fluid. The lesions may appear with blisters or instead of blisters and can be big or small. Often, the lesions form in patches on the skin and cause large areas to be infected. They can appear anywhere the infection is present, even over the eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lesions can hurt or itch and it can be hard not to want to rub or scratch at them. The more you touch or pick at the lesions, the worse they get and the more the infection spreads to other areas of the body. The lesions can even cause scars that last after the infection is gone. The lesions can be bathed with warm water to help soothe the pain and itch. You can also apply a topical antibiotic cream to the lesions to help kill any bacteria that may be present in them and prevent them from itching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Oozing Skin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Impetigo spreads through fluid, and it\u2019s common for the blisters and lesions on the skin to ooze this liquid. The liquid can be clear or brown. In some cases, it can be mixed with blood. The fluid can contain the bacteria <\/a>that causes the infection and if it oozes onto other areas of the skin or if it comes into contact with another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The liquid can also ooze onto clothing, towels, blankets, and other surfaces, causing them to carry the bacteria to others as well. Wiping the lesions and blisters can make the oozing worse. The fluid can also dry on the skin and form a crust. While the oozing can\u2019t be prevented, it\u2019s best to not touch the lesions or blisters, and avoid getting the liquid on your hands. You can wash the infected area with warm, soapy water to help reduce the amount of liquid that oozes out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Itching<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Impetigo can be an uncomfortable illness, and one of the worst things about it is how much it itches. Some people notice that their skin is itching <\/a>before it becomes red or blisters appear. The itching is a reaction to the infection damaging the skin and making its way through the body. While it can be hard to not scratch the itching blisters and lesions, doing so can make the infection worse and cause it to spread to other areas of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria are present in the blisters and lesions, and if it gets on your hands, you can transfer it to other surfaces and to other people. If the itching is severe, a doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to help soothe the itching. Scratch can also lead to scarring and other infections, as it keeps the skin open and susceptible to other types of infections in the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pain is common with impetigo and is a result of the infection. The pain may be felt on the surface of the skin where the blisters and lesions are present, or internally with aches and pains. If the infection has caused the lymph nodes to swell, they may be painful as well. Headaches are common fevers, which are commonly present with impetigo infections. Pain medication <\/a>can be taken as needed to help with the pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Topical creams can also be used to help with the pain. The more the infection spread, and the more you touch or pick at the blisters and lesions, the more painful it becomes. It\u2019s best to only apply medications to the infected areas and try to avoid touching them. Bathing in warm water can also help soothe painful skin. If the pain becomes too severe, inform a doctor. Stronger pain medication can be prescribed to make you more comfortable until the infection is gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Chills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In most cases of impetigo, the patient receives a mild fever that lasts around 12 to 24-hours. However, depending on the type of bacteria responsible for the infection, the patient may experience a high fever. Patients whose temperatures exceed 99F may start to notice that they develop chills<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These chills occur due to the body changing the temperature setpoint, resulting in a lag where the body needs to catch up. During the lag phase, the patient may feel cold, even though they are sweating, which is a condition known as \u201ccold sweats.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may also start to experiencing racking chills as their body struggles to catch up to the new basal rate temperature. In most cases, the chills subside as the fever peaks, and the patient should return to an average temperature as the infection subsides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most doctors will let a fever run for a few hours to determine its intensity. Unless the patient reaches body temperatures exceeding 100F, the doctor will usually leave the patient untreated.
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10. Ecthyma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The blistering associated with impetigo is typically nothing to be concerned with for the long term health of the child. In most cases, the blisters pop, secrete fluids, dry out and leave no permanent scarring on the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the extent of the blistering effect depends significantly on the type of bacteria responsible for the infection. Impetigo occurs due to contamination from one of many different strains of bacteria, with some of them producing severe blistering symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecthyma <\/a>describes a related impetigo infection where the patient develops deep ulcers in the skin. The sores are painful to the touch and pool with pus before bursting, leaving behind necrotic tissue. In some cases, these deep scars are permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with ecthyma require regular treatment of the sores throughout the day. A caregiver or parent should tend to the ulcers and keep them clean, using warm salt water and cotton pads to prevent further infection.
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11. Blister Sites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most children infected with the bacteria that causes impetigo to experience the development of sores <\/a>and blisters around the mouth and nose. However, in some cases, the blisters spread to other regions of the body, such as arms and hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with ecthyma ulcers may notice them turn up on their arms and abdomen, and the bacteria that cause the development of bullous impetigo produces blisters on the stomach and lower back of the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impetigo blisters can also occur on the buttocks, as well as the chest, but it\u2019s rare that they turn up on the legs. Parents need to ensure that their child changes their clothes every day, and washes once in the morning and once in the evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change bedding every day and make sure you do the laundry daily as well. Impetigo blisters may migrate to other areas of the body if parents do not tightly control their child\u2019s hygiene during the infection.
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12. Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a set of risk factors<\/a> for impetigo infection that provides insight into groups with a high risk of contracting the bacteria responsible for causing impetigo. If you find yourself or your family members in any of the high-risk categories, make sure you take extra-special care of your family\u2019s hygiene to avoid infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children between the ages of 2 and 5-years old are most at risk of impetigo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children who attend nursery school are also considered high-risk. Preschools are breeding grounds for all types of bacteria and viruses. Children have yet to develop robust immune systems capable of warding off infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, they tend to catch every disease going around the playground, and then they take it home to the rest of the family. The family members then spread the disease throughout their community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather also plays a role in impetigo, and infections are more common in hot and humid climates where bacteria can multiply readily.
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13. Complications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Impetigo is not a life-threatening disease. Under most circumstances, the patient will make a full recovery within a few days, with the scabs healing a few weeks afterward. In most cases, the patient receives no permanent scarring from their condition, unless they develop the more severe form of the disease – ecthyma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are some occasions where impetigo can cause complications with other existing conditions. Anemia is a condition where the body does not produce enough hemoglobin<\/a>. This protein in red blood cells provides the bloodstream with oxygen to feed the muscular and nervous system functions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, people with anemia experience persistent feelings of fatigue, and they may notice that they feel light-headed when rising from a seated position. Doctors treat anemia through supplementation with the mineral iron. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with chronic anemia may experience a further reduction in hemoglobin production should they become infected with impetigo. This situation may turn into a life-threatening event, and patients should seek immediate medical assistance.
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14. Prevention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Impetigo is very infectious, especially in children. The bacteria that causes impetigo also spreads readily during contact, making it a nightmare to control for any daycare owners. If one child comes down with impetigo, the chances are that many of the other kids at the school or facility will experience the infection as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daycare owners that receive notification of impetigo infection from one of the parents of the kids attending their school should notify all the other parents immediately. Children often play with neighbors or other kids outside of their playschool in the afternoons. As a result, they may spread the infection to other areas of the community. Preschool owners can help quarantine <\/a>the disease and reduce its impact on others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents should likewise notify the preschool owner as soon as they receive a diagnosis of impetigo from their child\u2019s doctor. Responsible reporting of the infection will help to slow the spread of the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents can teach their child hygiene habits early on, reducing the chances of them eating contaminated food or beverages.
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