Impetigo 10 YO

[SingaporeSling01]

My DS has impetigo. It started perhaps a week ago, initially I just thought he’d had a tumble at sports camp, and now it’s continuing to spread across his face. He was diagnosed yesterday and had a days worth of antibiotics.

Does anyone have any tips on how to help the healing process? He seems quite stressed out and it’s difficult to make him stop touching his face.

How long would you wait for the antibiotics to take effect? I’m thinking if it appears to continue to be spreading this time tomorrow he should go and see a paediatrician.

Is it the oral or topical antibiotics? My DD was given oral as her case was bad (like you, I thought she just had bites or had scratched at her face!) She had it on her arm as well.

Oral.

Can I ask how long it took to clear and if your DD was off school?

They always used to give topical as well to really knock it on its head.

The touching will spread it, clean towel every time and really just no touching or it will spread more. Can it be covered,that helps?

My dd used to get this when she was stressed out, it didn't seem contagious as none of the rest of us got it. It always starts at the corner of her mouth and I ask for antibiotics as soon as I see it starting. It doesn't clear unless she uses both topical and oral antibiotics simultaneously.

@SingaporeSling01 wednesday-friday, the Saturday would have been the third day (we were told 48hrs after starting the antibiotics).

We were using steroid cream before we managed to get the doctors appointment.

It's nothing to do with stress, it's a bacteria. If she has a weak immune then her body can't fight the bacteria/ infection. And it absolutely is contagious, you were probably jist just lucky or she practiced good hygiene.

Change bedding daily OP, separate face cloth and hand towel, keep telling him to wash his hands, there's not much you can do to speed up the healing but you can prevent it spreading further. I once developed it across almost the entire side of my face! I had a week off work but was visible for weeks after. Topical creams have always worked best for me.

Between me and two kids we’ve had 9 bouts this summer. It depends on the size of the lesions but while the spread stops pretty quickly it takes a good three days for the lesions to start looking better and more than a week to heal.
Stress has no effect but touching isn’t ideal. He can take an antihistamine if it itches.