Children with skin impetigo: What to do?

The article is expertly consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Minh Tuan - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Impetigo (or impetigo) on the skin is a disease caused by streptococcus and staphylococcus aureus. Impetigo lesions can spread from one area of ​​the body to another, or from an infected child to an uninfected child if there is direct contact with the affected area. Therefore, this disease needs to be treated early and properly. So how to treat impetigo in children?

Initially, the skin lesions caused by impetigo in children are just small papules resembling mosquito bites that later turn bullous, pus-filled, and burst into widespread lesions. If the disease is not treated promptly, there is a risk of complications into:
Osteomyelitis; Sepsis; scarlet fever; Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome; Cellulitis; Erythema multiforme; Medal; Droplet psoriasis; erysipelas.

The diagnosis of impetigo in children is mainly based on clinical features and some tests such as bacterial culture, endoscopic staining, white blood cell formula, histopathology...

How to treat impetigo in children is also quite simple, however, it is necessary to follow the right procedures and methods to help children reduce discomfort and quickly recover from the disease.
First, when detecting that a child has an impetigo on the skin, it is necessary to clean the lesion and gently remove the exudate, then use an antiseptic or antibiotic ointment to apply at the impetigo site, then cover it. damaged skin to prevent impetigo from spreading.
Ideally, parents should take the child to the hospital to be examined by a specialist and prescribe a treatment suitable for the age and severity of impetigo in the child, avoiding the case of not knowing what impetigo to use. but still let the child self-treat at home.
Usually, in mild cases or children only have localized lesions, the doctor will clean the lesions with a solution of 1/10,000 potassium permanganate or 0.9% NaCl or 1/10,000 potassium permanganate, then use ointment or antibiotic cream to apply to the lesion twice a day.
In case impetigo lesions in children spread or do not heal for a long time and there is a risk of complications into acute glomerulonephritis, the child must use systemic antibiotics, the doctor will base on the age of the child to prescribe. appropriate dose.

Impetigo is a very recurrent disease, although not dangerous, it will cause certain pain for children. Therefore, parents need to actively prevent the disease from recurring by:
Clean the child's body, use antibacterial shower gel; Let children wear loose, cool clothes in the summer; Keep children's houses and play areas clean; If the child is sick, avoid contact with other people, should keep the child out of school until the scabs have dried; Use separate towels for children; Keep your child's nose clean when he has a cold. In addition, as soon as lesions appear on the child's skin, it is necessary to take the child to the hospital immediately for timely treatment, absolutely do not buy drugs for home treatment.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. Master. Doctor. Nguyen Minh Tuan has over 27 years of experience in the field of Pediatrics. The doctor was former Deputy General Department of Pediatrics - Da Nang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital before being a Pediatrician at the Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital as it is now