Impetigo is a very contagious skin infection that causes sores and blisters. If treatment is quick the infection can be dealt with within a week. There are two main types of impetigo non-bullous and bullous.

Non-bullous impetigo will infect the mouth and nose area as sores that will burst and form a crust like scab yellow and brown in its appearance.           

Bullous impetigo on the other hand will form around the trunk of a patient the waist and lower neck regions forming blisters that readily burst also forming crusted areas both are painless but may cause itching and redness in the infected area.

In some rare cases impetigo can become severe where large sections of the skin are effected leading to a fever and the person feels ill with diarrhoea making them become weak. At this point medical help would be advised so consult a G P.

Impetigo is so contagious it would wise not to come into contact with other people so staying at home and not going out would be the best idea to limit the spread of the infection .When at home do not share towels or flannels or even sheets if possible . Always  after use wash these in a very high temperature. High heat will kill the germs and reduce the chances of further out breaks. To wash the infected area instead of using a flannel use cotton wool balls, by dipping the balls into a diluted solution of Miltons baby sterilizing  liquid wipe each area once discarding the ball each time so using a clean cotton ball for one area only (as in dip-wipe-discard ) always do a test area first to make sure there is no complications.

Avoid touching the sores and do not scratch them as this will lead to more damage to the skin as to cause scarring and will spread the infection further. If at all possible when every you touch something try to clean it as someone else could come into contact with that object and become infected. Most people are no longer contagious after 48 hours of treatment or once their sores have dried and healed.

TREATMENT

Antibiotics in the form of tablets or cream are the quickest way to  resolve the problem For mild cases of impetigo that cover a small area, antibiotic cream is often recommended. This will usually need to be applied three or four times a day for seven days. Antibiotic tablets are usually prescribed if the cream has little effect If a course of oral antibiotics is prescribed is it is important to finish the course even if the symptoms clear up before you have taken all the tablets .If  the symptoms persist after antibiotics have been used then it would wise to seek more medical help.

Impetigo is rarely serious but sometimes it can become just that .

ECTHYMA

Ecthyma  is a skin condition that has all the signs of being impetigo (it is also called deep impetigo) but in appearance is smaller but it penetrates deep into the skin it often starts on the legs it forms a harder crust that is thicker to than impetigo. If the crust is removed it will  reveal an ulcer that may be  swollen and oozing with pus if a patient is lucky this can resolve its self and go as quickly as it came but in other cases it remains and may even grow. These lesions many become swollen and painful. This condition is common if Poor hygiene is present and living in hot and humid places along with impetigo not being treated .

TREATMENT

As like impetigo treatment is a course of antibiotics either in the form of cream or tablets if hygiene is improved and washing with antiseptic soap or cleanser this will greatly aid in reducing the spread as will changing the laundry clothes and linen frequently also Using separate towels and flannels to prevent spreading infection. Unlike impetigo, ecthyma may result in permanent scarring because the crust has to be removed in order to treat the lesion. If you carefully clean the skin after an injury such as a bite or scratch do not pick or scratch at scabs or sores to prevent such an infection occurring.