A Case of Infantigo: Spread the Word, NOT the Bacteria!
My son caught infantigo
while we were traveling home from Argentina on an airplane. He
had an open wound on his wrist from a torn aluminum juice can,
and the wound grew more and more infected.
At first we thought that he was having an allergic reaction, but
the symptoms didn't go away after a full day, so we thought it
best to seek the advice of a professional doctor. The next day
we were home, our family doctor recognized the rash immediately
and prescribed antibiotics and rest for our little boy. The
antibiotics cleared up the infantigo within one week, which was
a relief indeed.
Our family had no idea that this bacterial disease existed until
this happened to us, so I'm writing this article as an
informative venture for any parent who is unaware of its
existence.
Any public area is a potential high risk area for conditions
like infantigo (impetigo) that can be transmitted from person to
person. The bacteria are transferred when an infected person
touches any infected object with his or her skin. Then the
bacteria are picked up by an unsuspecting child (sometimes an
adult) who touches the contaminated item later.
It is important to note that the infantigo bacteria can only
enter the human system through cuts or abrasions in the skin. If
the skin is healthy then the bacteria will not be able to get
in. If your child has a cut, make sure to wash with soap
frequently to avoid this nasty bacterial infection. And remember
that door handles, luggage trolley handles, hand railings, seats
and seat belts etc all provide good opportunities for the
bacteria to spread.