Impetigo in Children: a Clinical Guide and Treatment Options
S. Afr. fam. pract. (2004, Online)
;
53(1): 44-46, 2011.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1269915
ABSTRACT
Impetigo is a contagious; superficial bacterial infection of the skin; most frequently encountered in children. Causative organisms are almost always Staphylococcus aureus or streptococci; or a combination of the two. Predisposing factors are nasal and perineal colonisation; overcrowding; poor personal hygiene; minor skin trauma and preexisting skin diseases with disrupted skin barrier function; like eczema. Infection is mainly acquired through contact with sufferers or nasal carriers. Treatment should be given to avoid spread of the disease; and to minimise the risk of infecting others. Although the majority of cases of impetigo are self-limiting; under certain circumstances complications like toxic shock syndrome; staphylococcal osteomyelitis; septic arthritis and pneumonia can occur. Furthermore; certain strains of group A ?-haemolytic streptococci causing impetigo may result in poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis; just like streptococcal throat infections can result in rheumatic fever in children; but the pathogenesis remains poorly understood. It appears to be due to abnormal immune response or hypersensitivity to streptococcal antigens
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Perineum
/
Skin Diseases
/
Staphylococcal Skin Infections
/
Child
/
Nasal Septal Perforation
/
Glomerulonephritis
/
Impetigo
Language:
English
Journal:
S. Afr. fam. pract. (2004, Online)
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
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