On Treating Impetigo December 30, 2008
Just recently, Kyle, my youngest son had these tiny reddish wounds and sores which at first thought to be just simple insect bites. But as days passed, these bites grew bigger and they started to spread out rapidly on some areas of his skin: one on his right elbow, one on the left arm, and one on his right leg. After searching the net and consulting with the pedia, we’ve found out that Kyle has a case of what we call Impetigo, a skin disease common to children especially toddlers. Impetigo begins from a tiny insect bite then grows bigger and reddish if not treated right away. Actually Impetigo occurs when the child scratches this bites with dirty hands which can lead to bacteria growth. Moreover, impetigo are contagious by means of touch.
As treatment, we set aside Kyle’s towel and clothes from his kuya Keith, then we strictly imposed the use of alcohol and frequent handwashing at home. Also these wounds have to be treated at least five times or so in a day. All you need is an antisceptic, then apply an antibacterial ointment (Bactroban, the best!) unto the wound. Cover the wound with gauge to protect it from being scratched. We also had to trim Kyle’s fingernails to prevent them from acquiring dirt that would aggravate bacteria growth once they get contact with the wound. We also made sure that the house is cleaned and disenfected frequently.
Although impetigo is a common skin problem among toddlers, we can protect our children from it by ensuring the cleanliness of our homes, making sure that our homes are insect and dirt free, plus providing our kids with food rich in vitamin C. We also need to be alert and vigilant with things that are unusual especially with our kids so we can act upon them right away. Then, prevention, prevention, prevention! 
*image courtesy of http://www.sumnerhealth.co.nz/infosheets/impetigo.html
