HELP. Repeated bouts of impetigo in baby.

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DS first had impetigo when he was 6 months old, then again when 9 months, and I think he's getting it again. Each time it has totally cleared up between each infection, and we're very vigilant with washing clothes, bedding and hands during and after the infection has appeared.

The strange thing is it has appeared in exactly the same place on the same ear. What does this mean? Surely it means something? The GP didn't seem to think it meant anything.

So, why the repeated bouts of impetigo? Why in the same place?

The anti-biot cream does work, but I want to get to the bottom of it as the GP really wasn't interested in getting into a conversation about it, and I can't really find much on the internet about it.

Any suggestions, thoughts and experiences most welcome

Anyone?
Please

No answers but I think the bacteria can linger in a house for a long time. DD had it last December and Ds2 had it recently and the GP said it could be related...

I don't know but I have heard this happen with a friend of ours children who kept getting it repeatedly. Are you using the oral antibiotics and cream together?

I wonder if keeping an eye on that bit of the skin in between bouts would make a difference (like making sure it is kept moisturised etc. etc.). I have no idea, just idly wondering.

Could it be lingering in his pushchair? Just thought you might have overlooked this in your vigilance to clear the home environment.

Yes if he's prone to dry skin maybe there's a little crack there where the bacteria is entering?

1st time was cream, but that didn't work (the symptoms had been there for a couple of days before treatment) and we used the oral anti-biots.

2nd time we used the cream and it worked as I recognised the symptoms straight away and treated it asap.

Grapefruit - do you know how long the bacteria can hang around for?

friend whose kids got it repeatedly eventually killed it off by using the cream + antibs together (but maybe it was coincidence!)

He's not prone to dry skin, but the 1st time and this time I know he has got a cut on his ear (both times caused by scratching himself)

Is the bacteria always present on the skin?

I will give the pushchair a scrub - good idea Perpetual

Maybe you could also try using a clean muslin under his head whenever he's asleep.

If this helps, when any of mine kept getting it over and over the gp tested ALL of us with nasal swabs. The results showed if any of us were carriers, it happened to be me actually!!
I got some nasal antibiotic stuff which killed the strep in my nose and so I stopped passing it on to the babies/kids.
Might be worth asking the gp for a test?

A great idea Kitty. I think I'll suggest that to the GP.

Yes the swap test for recurrent impetigo is a great idea. Also DD used to flare up with it after her jabs as I guess her immune system was being bombarded. So I think it is one of those awful things that keeps appearing when they are low. DD was so ill with it she got a temp and lots of pain so you have my sympathies. AntiB didn't help with us but Fucibet at first sign of infection seemed to nip it in the bud. Fumigate your house and toys but it is something ultimately they have to ride through, we also found vitamins helped clear it up faster.

DD also gets it in the same place exactly - it is because this is where the skin is left scarred and vulnerable form last infection so it gets attacked first, like a patch of excema is the same - this is not always visable to the eye.

Thanks for the tips Crush. It's very interesting about the skin being vunerable. Why couldn't the GP just have told me that instead of ignoring me? And why do Mum's on the internet help you more than the GP? GGrrrrr

A lot of gp's are lazy IME

I know what you mean Kitty, it drives me nuts.

Yes I understand it's not a life threatening condition and that he doesn't get ill with it. But I don't like having to use anti-biot cream over and over again, detoxifying the house is a pita, and we can't socialise while he has it.

I had to go to a specialist Dermatologist for this as GP only told me to "persevere" for over 2 MONTHS with high dosage of AB on an 11m old with diorreah and no sign of getting better.

It's not unusual to get recurrent impetigo in areas that are scratched regularly and moist. it doesn't necessarily mean anything if the skin is otherwise normal.

If it is happening that frequently nose swabs are a good idea and if it is found he is carrying the bacteria there it can be treated(the cream is called naseptin)but can still come back.

I don't usually recommend a house detox more than the usual wash his sheets and towels (which hopefully you do every week or so anyway) as there is really no point.

(a non-lazy GP who is getting quite fed up of the GP bashing on mumsnet)

Oh Crush, I didn't realise the symptoms could be so bad. It sounds like we're lucky that ds just gets a minging looking ear.

difficult - apologies if you have taken the comments personally, you've told me more in your thread than the GP has on 3 visits. If only they were all like you. I did lol at your comment about the laundry though Yes I do wash bedding and linen regularly!

don't worry not taking it personally, I'm lucky in that all the GPs I know and work with are great, hard working and go above and beyond for their patients - but I'm not naive enough to think there aren't bad apples out there.

hmm, reminds me, I should probably do the washing... I am occasionally a lazy housewife

Hope you get it sorted soon

All the gp's at my present surgery are fab though. There are always a few bad eggs in every profession!

ooh apples and eggs

is your ds scratching the area ? if the skin is dry and irritated he could just have a touch of infantile excema there ( common spot for it) and when he scratches the natural skin barrier is broken and then the bacteria which usually live with us quite normally and harmlessly can penertrate th lower levels of the skin and set up an ifection. I know how you feel about hte constant antibiotic cream but really doubt there is anything more too it , some kids just seem more prone to it . inbetween bouts keep the area well moustuised, ask your gp for somehitng like diprobase or cetreban , use specific eczema products in the bath and try gentle to encourage him not to rub/scratch etc. the scratching thing can become habitual. agree with difficult descision about not needing to detox/scrub house just ensure all sheets and towels washed on hottest wash to kill bacteria ( none of this nancy 30 degrees stuff) and to help build his own natural defences perhaps probioitc yogharts. hth .