Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection. It can appear anywhere on the body but usually attacks exposed areas. Children tend to get it on the face, especially around the nose and mouth, and sometimes on the arms or legs. The infected area appears in patches, ranging from dime to quarter size, starting as tiny blisters that break and expose moist, red skin. After a few days the infected area is covered with a grainy, golden crust that gradually spreads at the edges.
              The gravest potential complication of impetigo is; Glomerular nephritis, a severe kidney disease that rarely occurs, mainly in children.
What are the symptoms?
              A small patch of blisters, after a few hours breaks into a red, moist area that oozes fluid; appears mainly on  the face, but also on exposed areas of the arms and legs.  In a few days, formation of a golden or dark-yellow crust, resembling grains of brown sugar occurs. The infection may continue to spread at the edges of the affected area.

              Sores associated with impetigo may be  mistaken for herpes, a viral infection. Impetigo spreads faster, never develops inside the mouth, and is rarely confined to one  area of the body.

              Children tend to get it first on the face, especially around the nose and mouth. In extreme cases the infection invades a deeper  layer of skin and develops into ecthyma, an ulcerated form of the disease. Ecthyma forms small, pus-filled ulcers with a crust much darker  and thicker than that of ordinary impetigo. Ecthyma can be very itchy and scratching, the  irritated area spreads the infection quickly. If left untreated, the ulcers may cause permanent scars and pigment changes.
What are the causes?
Impetigo is an infection usually caused by streptococcus. Occasionally the bacteria present in unclean bathrooms, in spoiled food and in our own bodies. A child may get impetigo with an open wound or fresh scratch bathing  in an unscrubbed basin or tub. Staphylococcus aureus can cause impetigo. These bacteria lurk everywhere. Using a towel or even a bar of soap used by a person infected with impetigo can spread the infection. Other skin related problems such as body lice, insect bites, fungal or strap infections, boils or various forms of dermatitis can make a person susceptible to impetigo.
              Many get this highly infectious disease through physical contact with someone who has it, or from sharing the same clothes, bed, towels or other objects. The very nature of childhood, which includes lots of physical contact and large group activities, makes children the primary victims and carriers of impetigo. Excessive sweating, malnutrition and poor hygiene can aggravate the condition.
 
Which treatment is ideal?
              The key for treating  and preventing impetigo is good personal hygiene and a clean surroundings. Once the infection occurs, prompt attention will keep it under control and prevent its spread.

              Normally, patient`s  of  impetigo  do not  enter a  Homoeopathic clinic since  they  have  been controlled  by stronger  antibiotic treatment by the modern medical experts. But a few cases  do not  respond often and lead  them  with  complications  like  Glomerulo nephritis. Finally the  patients  rush to Homoeopathic treatment.

              A suitable  Homoeopathic  remedy chosen for  an  impetigo patient  raises  the  immunity and  defends the  micro-organisms  to  restore  the  lesions   without  complications. I have treated a few cases  of  impetigo where  the  results  were  fantastic! I had treated many pyemic abscesses succsessfully which were not amenable to any kind of treatment.



 

 



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