Impetigo in 12wk old, am losing the plot please help!

[Sufi]

12 wk old DD was diagnosed with impetigo yesterday afternoon. Has spots on her face, scalp, neck, trunk and legs - basically all over. Doc wanted to give her an oral antibiotic as it's so widespread but I was v reluctant - DD had oral antibiotics when she was 6 wks old (chest infection), which lead to thrush, which gave me thrush (as I'm breastfeeding) & I eventually got mastitis, which I've only just recovered from.

SO, docs gave me an antibiotic cream and said to try that. She also gave me the oral antibiotics and said to start DD on them on Sunday if the cream doesn't work.

I've been washing everything, applying the cream, being really careful not to spread the bloody infection but this morning DD has even more spots - I just don't understand how it's spreading as it's under her clothes where she can't touch, and I haven't touched her.

Should I ditch the cream and start oral antibiotics now and live with the consequences? Or persevere with the cream for another 24 hours in the hope that it'll halt the infection?

I'm going out of my mind here - with the lack of sleep, unsupportive husband and toddler, the fact she won't take a bottle so I can't get a break, her excema, which has flared up, plus I'm feeling a bit down anyway I just don't feel like I can cope anymore. And the thought of getting thrush and mastitis again is one I can't really deal with either.

Does anyone have any advice?

I'm afraid to say that when my ds got impetigo at a similar age the only thing that worked were the oral antibiotics. I hate giving them too but nothing else helped. I think I would start giving them asap, they kick in really fast. Hope she starts getting better soon, impetigo is such a pain and unfortunately they are rather prone to it if they have eczema. Fingers crossed for you!

thanks for the response - turns out she has chickenpox, which explains why it kept on spreading! we're changing doctor as this is the 2nd time she;s misdiagniosed & the 2nd time we;ve ended up having to take dd to the out of hours doctor...

Oh no! That's not very good is it! Glad you have the correct diagnosis now and won't be giving her unnecessary antibiotics. Hope she doesn't feel too poorly with the chicken pox and has a speedy recovery.

Poor little thing. Use lots of calomine lotion and keep her as cool as possible.

When my dd was 2.5 she has impetigo infected chicken pox which was very nasty so DO give the antibiotics if you can..

thanks all, & thanks also shineon, tho it's not infected & second doc said def. not to use the antibiotics - but will keep an eye on the spots in case they do get infected (they're really not atm & she's fine today, just v v spotty!).