Nursery World - Don't touch!

Care for a common childhood skin infection is outlined by health expert Karen Sullivan Once associated with poor hygiene, impetigo is a very common skin infection that mainly affects infants and children. While the infection is caused by bacteria ('staph' or Staphylococcus aureus and 'strep' Streptococcus pyogenes), we now know that both of these bacteria can live harmlessly on the skin or in the nose until they enter through a cut, burn, scrape, bite or other wound, and cause infection. In some cases the bacteria attacks perfectly healthy skin.

Once associated with poor hygiene, impetigo is a very common skin infection that mainly affects infants and children. While the infection is caused by bacteria ('staph' or Staphylococcus aureus and 'strep' Streptococcus pyogenes), we now know that both of these bacteria can live harmlessly on the skin or in the nose until they enter through a cut, burn, scrape, bite or other wound, and cause infection. In some cases the bacteria attacks perfectly healthy skin.

Impetigo starts as a red sore or patch of inflamed skin, often around the nose and mouth, and sometimes in the nappy area in infants. It quickly ruptures, oozes for a few days and then forms a yellowish-brown crust. 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 children.

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