Teachers & Parents Beware of Impetigo: I Gave It To My Teacher

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Now that I finished my concussion series, I decided to take on a lighter subject but something that all teachers and parents should be aware of. I’m sure you either haven’t heard of it or aren’t as familiar with it but this particular childhood disease affected me when I was in the 2nd grade. Back in those days so long, long, long ago, we didn’t have health insurance. In fact those were the days when doctors came to your house to provide medical service. All expenses were paid out of pocket so that most families would try home remedies before having to result to having to use a doctor.

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All I remember was I had woken up one morning with red bumps on the upper portion above my lips. I went to school anyway. The next day the red bumps started to spread to either ends of my upper lip. Eventually it turned into a cluster of blisters which rose fairly high above the skin. I don’t remember it hurting but it did itch & just looked terrible. Not long after that the blisters burst, oozing out and then soon after scabs formed with a yellowish-brown crust. I remember feeling like I had grown a mustache.

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My mother and father had tried everything because in those days, there was no internet or resources like we have today. My father’s last ditched effort was to try beet juice over my upper lip area and as you well know, that didn’t work. I remember being miserable because I had to stay home from school. Finally after everything was tried, my parents finally brought me to the doctors where we all had learned that I had Impetigo. Till this day, I have never forgotten that name!!!

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What Is Impetigo?

According to Healthy children (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/skin/Pages/Impetigo-Care.aspx) Impetigo is “a contagious bacterial skin infection that often appears around the nose, mouth, and ears.” It is the most common bacterial infection in children. According to Healthy Children “more than 90% of impetigo cases are caused by streptococcus bacteria (which also are responsible for “strep” throat and scarlet fever). If staph bacteria are to blame, the infection may cause blisters filled with clear fluid. These can break easily, leaving a raw, glistening area that soon forms a scab with a honey colored crust. By contrast, infections with strep bacteria usually are not associated with blisters, but they do cause crusts over larger sores and ulcers."

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How Do You Treat Impetigo?

It is recommended that you take your child to the doctor as soon as you notice a reddish, weeping or blistery rash. The doctor will usually be able to distinguish impetigo rash by just looking at it. Antibiotics will be prescribed to deal with the infection and sometimes the doctor may prescribe a topical antibacterial ointment. It is stressed that the child must take the full course of the antibiotics that are prescribed or the impetigo could come back.

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Because impetigo is highly contagious, it is imperative that you maintain good infection control measures at home. The child must use his/her own washcloths, hand towels, comb, brush, toothpaste, etc. and not touch items members of the household use. When cleaning the affected area and applying ointment, be sure to wash your hands well. Wherever the child touches, you may need to clean the surface areas to prevent spreading.

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How To Prevent Impetigo From Spreading

According to Healthy Children because the impetigo bacteria thrives in breaks in the skin, they recommend that you keep your child’s fingernails clipped and clean. It is also important that you teach your child not to scratch any minor skin irritations. If he/she happens to scratch, they recommend that you have your child wash his/her hands with soap and water and apply antibiotic cream or ointment. And remember to use only the child’s towel and not someone else’s towel.

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In another article from NHS Inform (https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/impetigo#prevention) they gave a more detailed list of how to stop the infection from spreading. This is what they listed:

• Stay away from work, school, nursery or playgroup until the sores have dried up, blistered or crusted over, or until 48 hours after starting treatment.

• Don't share flannels, sheets or towels with anyone who has impetigo, and wash them at a high temperature after use.

• Wash the sores with soap and water, and cover them loosely with a gauze bandage or clothing if possible.

• Avoid touching the sores, or letting others touch them, whenever possible.

• Don't scratch the affected areas. It may help to ensure your or your child's nails are kept clean and short to reduce the risk of further damage caused by scratching.

• Avoid contact with newborn babies, preparing food, playing contact sports, or going to the gym until the risk of infection has passed (when the rash has crusted over, or after at least 48 hours of treatment with antibiotics).

• Wash your hands frequently, particularly after touching infected skin.

• Washable toys should also be washed. Wipe non-washable soft toys thoroughly with a cloth that has been wrung out in detergent and warm water and allowed to dry completely.

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Complications of Impetigo

Usually there are no complications with impetigo and after treatment it usually clears within a few days. Impetigo is generally not life-threatening but there occasionally can be some complications. Some of these complications can include Scarring which is a result when the child/person picks at his/her sores/scabs, Cellulitis which affects tissues under the skin and can be dangerous if not treated and finally, in very rare cases it can result in a condition called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis which can lead to kidney failure.

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“Bullous impetigo is most common in children under age two.
Blisters usually occur first on their torso, arms, and legs.
These blisters may initially appear clear and then turn cloudy.”
-Healthline.com

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A Word About Bullous Impetigo

The first impetigo I went through is considered to be the Non Bullous Impetigo. There is a Bulolous Impetigo which is less contagious than the non-bullous impetigo. According to Diseases Lab (http://diseaseslab.com/bullous-impetigo-symptoms-pictures-causes-treatment/) “Bullous impetigo is marked by characteristic red sores on the skin more specific on the nose and mouth. It is contagious and quickly spread to other areas of the body when touched by fingers or clothing. Medium or large sized blisters are formed on the diaper area of the infants. The child may cry repeatedly with discomfort and more specific while changing diapers and while bathing. The Bullous Impetigo blisters may be painful and the area of skin surrounding them may be itchy. Symptoms of fever and swollen glands are more common in cases of bullous impetigo.”

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So getting back to my impetigo story, yes, I managed to infect my teacher, Miss Myers. I just remember seeing her with the same blisters later and then she was out for a few days. I felt really bad because I, myself did not know how I got impetigo. You see, in those days, we did not have the easy access to information like we do today. I literally spent half my lifetime without a computer so I always had to learn things the hard way.

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So a warning to all teachers and parents…….you should be on the lookout for any signs of a rash or blisters around a child’s mouth, nose, or face. It could be impetigo and it is very contagious. Impetigo may take up to 10 days after the skin becomes infected to develop. So if you see a child with signs of impetigo the school nurse should be notified. The quicker you discover it, the quicker you must act to prevent it from spreading to other children and of course to yourself.

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I hope you found this article helpful. I would never have known about impetigo if not for the fact that I had it when I was young and never forgot the experience. Thank-you for reading my article on Teachers & Parents Beware of Impetigo: I Gave It To My Teacher. If you would like to follow me, please check HERE

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