Impetigo, also known as school sores, is a skin infection caused by the staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria. This infection is more common in children in the age group of two to six years than in adults. Any injury on the child’s skin can provide an entry point for the staph or strep bacteria. Impetigo is a contagious infection that can appear anywhere on the body, though the nose and around the mouth are more likely to be affected by it. It can be spread from one body part to the other and from one person to the other as well. It’s very important to make sure that the infection doesn’t spread. For that, the affected area should be kept clean all the time. It should be washed about thrice a day with an antibacterial soap. Also, the area should not be bandaged, as it becomes more prone to bacterial attack. The patient should not scratch the infected area, and his or her nails should always be short and clean. The patient should also not share his towel with anyone else. If the patient is running a temperature along with the infection, he should see a doctor immediately, as it may imply that the infection has reached deeper levels of the skin.
It’s always better to prevent an infection. For prevention, keep your child’s skin moisturized all the time, especially during winter. If the child has a cold, petroleum jelly can be applied around the nose so that no skin abrasion is caused which can lead to an infection. Treat any rash or injury as soon as possible so that it does not turn into impetigo. If you do suffer from a rash, you can cure it by using garlic. Make a paste of garlic and apply it all over the affected region. Garlic has strong antibacterial agents that cure almost any kind of infections. Drawing a bath with a few drops of tea tree oil added to it is also beneficial. Soak in the tub for about 15 minutes everyday to get rid of the infection. You can also treat the affected area with vinegar. Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to 1 pint of water and soak the affected area in this solution for approximately 20 minutes. Vinegar will kill the bacteria and remove the scabs. You can also apply aloe vera gel about four times a day to get rid of the infection and irritation. Applying olive oil to the infected area is also very effective.