It is not uncommon to hear about various skin diseases throughout life. They can be considered one of the most common types of diseases and affect all ages. From fungal infections and chickenpox, for example, which most people end up getting during their lifetime, to more serious illnesses such as skin cancer. One of the diseases that are common early in life is impetigo, which in Brazil alone records more than two million cases per year.

Although it is a common disease in infants and children, some precautions need to be taken so that impetigo does not lead to more serious consequences. But to know how to protect yourself and treat it, 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 incubate in someone’s body for around 4 days and, even without showing any symptoms, a person with one of these bacteria incubating can infect others.

It is a highly contagious disease and therefore the ways of infection are transmitted from person to person, either through direct contact with sores or even by sharing items such as sheets, cutlery, glasses, and so on.

Although it can happen to anyone, impetigo is much more common in children under 10 years old, with contact mainly occurring in group settings such as schools or daycare centers.

To talk about the symptoms of the disease, we first need to explain the three types and how they affect our bodies. The types of impetigo are:

  • Common Impetigo
  • Bullous Impetigo
  • Ecthyma

Common Impetigo

This is the most common type of impetigo and mainly affects children, leaving sores around the nose and mouth. This type of manifestation usually does not leave scars and treatment can last just a few days.

Bullous Impetigo

In this case, the sores appear as blisters and spread to other parts of the body, affecting not just the face, but also the chest, arms, buttocks, and abdomen. The lesions caused by bullous impetigo also usually do not leave scars.

Ecthyma

This is the most severe form of this type of disease, affecting the deeper layers of the skin, with lesions containing a lot of pus and causing pain. In addition, the sores of ecthyma leave scars on people.

Symptoms of Impetigo

This is a disease with very characteristic symptoms and, therefore, it is easy to notice when someone has 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 has impetigo. We can say that the main symptoms of the disease are:

  • Sores with pus that itch and burst easily.
  • Red and irritated skin, especially in children.
  • Lesions on the face, legs, buttocks, and back.
  • Skin rashes that spread over the skin

When these symptoms are detected, a person should seek a doctor for treatment.

Risk Factors

Although the disease can be transmitted to anyone, there are some groups that are at higher risk both of acquiring impetigo and of experiencing more severe problems with it. They are:

  • People who live in very humid and hot places, since this type of climate helps the bacteria reproduce.
  • Children, as we mentioned previously, especially those under 10 years old.
  • Elderly people, due to weakened immune systems.
  • People with diabetes, also due to weaknesses in the immune system.

Complications of the Disease

When impetigo receives proper treatment, it hardly ever presents any sort of complication, and can be cured simply and quickly. However, there are always cases where the disease can cause certain types of complications, mainly due to weaknesses in the immune system combined with improper treatment or even the lack of it. These complications are:

  • Infectious cellulitis, which affects the skin tissues and can even be fatal.
  • Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, a kidney disease caused by the progression of the bacteria from impetigo.
  • Dark spots on the skin, mostly caused by untreated lesions.

Although it may seem scary, it is very rare for these complications to happen and, if we take proper care, the chances of them happening to us or our children are almost zero.

Treatment of Impetigo

Treatment of the disease is basically done with antibiotics, either oral or as ointments. A specialist doctor will prescribe the best way to fight the disease. Although the treatment is simple and lasts from a few days up to about two weeks, it needs to be done correctly until the end so that there is no bacterial resistance 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 germ or places where it is spreading. Avoiding sharing items such as bath towels, cutlery, and sheets is also a way to prevent the disease from reaching you.

Both in adults and children, it is very common for some diseases to spread and cause some kind of trouble. But while it is true that it is impossible to never get sick, it is also true that, by taking proper care, many of them can be avoided or at least not be a big problem in your life.

This is the case with impetigo, which even though it is not a very serious disease, can be prevented. 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
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