Recurrent 'impetigo' around mouth 8yo DD - v upset

[partystress]

DD has often suffered with redness around lips, looking like caused by licking during the night. But in the past year it has been much worse and now she regularly gets yellow crusty/weepy spots right up to her nose and down her chin, as well as in the corners of her mouth and along her top lip. Fucidin was stopping it getting worse, but now seems to be ineffective. The last two bouts have only cleared when she has been on oral ABs. The last flare up went after 5 days on ABs, but now 5 days after finishing that course of treatment it is back.

Would be v grateful for advice from anyone who has experienced similar problem. Not happy constantly pumping her with ABs and she is now already starting to worry about whether she will have it when new school term starts. One GP said it was impetigo, another that it was more likely dermatitis. I really don't think lip licking is the cause, feel it is more systemic, but no real clue. Help please!

My DD had this at about the same age and it was caused my licking, as soon as it dried out she would lick it to ease the tight itchy feeling and it would morph into impetigo as the skin broke down.
The way we got rid of it was to put epaderm (sp?) ointment on it once the infection cleared up. Had to persevere for a long time until the skin had recovered and the habit of licking was broken. The trick was not to let the skin dry out so it didn't itch and sting.
You can get the cream from the chemist.

I get sebborrhoeic dermatitis (which has been misdiagnosed in the past as impetigo) - they can be similar in some respects. Mine flares up when I am stressed or run down. Someone on here recommended that I use Nizoral shampoo - it has a fungicide in it and is for scalp problems, but I put a tiny bit on my hands dilute it down with water and use as a face wash on the affected area. - I've found it works better than anything else I've tried.

You can get nizoral in Boots with the dandruff shampoos its about £5-£6 for a small bottle - but you don't use much. Another thing that might work - used in the same way - is stuff for babies with cradle cap - because I think cradle cap and SD are v.similar.

As I say - I use this, - but obviously I am an adult, - so I don't know if it is suitable for children - you'd have to use your own judgement, - really dilute it - a drop in your palm and mix with water to a lather.

I hope you find something that works for her - it must be horrid for her, poor wee soul, - I get fed up and down about mine - much worse for a little girl

I will think about this (half asleep at the mo, about to go to bed), but if it is impetigo it is really contagious, so you have to hot wash things that her face touches, like pillowcases and change them daily, (maybe even wash the pillow more often than normal too)
Could your GP refer you to a dermatologist so that you get a proper diagnosis? dermatitis and impetigo are quite different so it would help to know just what you are dealing with.
As to the systemic angle- Homoeopathy gets slated generally on mumsnet, but I have had some really good experiences and I think it might be worth seeing a really good homoeopath too.
Must be very sore and horrible for your dd, hope it does get resolved.

Please get a nose swab

My DS had 4 bouts of impetigo in as many months. He would have antibiotics that would clear it up then within a week it was back.

Sometimes the bacteria is harbered in the nose, a GP friend suggested a swab and guess what, she was right. We had a ten day course of antibiotics and so far it has not come back.

Hope that helps

Thanks all. Saw a different GP yesterday who gave her a thorough check over. He thought it was impetigo and has given her a 10 day course of ABs plus some Bactroban to use in her nose, so Teadrinker looks like he was thinking along same lines as you. if it comes back he wants to do blood tests. She is feeling a bit better I think for having had it taken seriously by a doc. Thanks for support

My DD has a tendency to get staph infections, which look a bit like chicken pox, but I think are basically a kind of impetigo. Only oral ABs clear it up but on a friend's recommendation I bought children's acidophilus powder. She has it every day and this seems to boost her immune system in some way and makes her less prone to them. Maybe worth trying this alongside the Abs?