Impetigo: photo, treatment, types

Impetigo is an infectious disease that has a contact transmission route and is characterized by the formation of superficial vesicular abscesses on the skin.

The common name for this pathology (together with ecthyma) is streptoderma, and today this diagnosis is quite common. As a rule, impetigo most often occurs in children, manifesting itself as painful hyperemic spots that, after a short period of time, can transform into bubbles with the formation scab.

In most cases, the causative agent of impetigo is Staphylococcus aureus and hemolytic streptococcus, which enter the body through damage to the skin or the mouth of the hair follicles.

Factors in the development of impetigo

The disease most often develops primarily, but sometimes impetigo can appear as a result of complications of dermatoses (neurodermatitis, eczema, etc.).

Streptococcal impetigo occurs in the following cases:

• the patient's residence in the subtropical and tropical climate zone, where there is high humidity and high air temperature;
• summer season, as well as rainy weather;
• streptoderma in a team or family;
• microtrauma of the skin;

• lack of basic sanitary and hygienic conditions;

• unfavorable epidemiological situation in the region of residence;
• the causes of the disease may be violations of the hematopoiesis (anemia);
• hypovitaminosis;
• endocrine disruption (hypothyroidism, diabetes, etc.).
• In addition, such a disease can appear as a result of head lice, scabies, eczema and chickenpox.

Symptoms of the disease

The main symptoms of impetigo are manifested by hyperemic rashes, which can be quite painful. In addition, purulent contents may be present in the resulting blisters.

The main symptoms are characterized by:

• intolerable itching at the site of the lesion of the epidermis;
• soreness and severe burning;
• exacerbation of pathological processes in the lymph nodes;
• spread of infection when scratching;
• sometimes there is hyperthermia and increased excitability.

After the bubbles break open and the infiltrate dries up, this place becomes covered with a yellowish crust. Some time after opening, the symptoms are neutralized, and the patient's condition improves. Symptoms of the disease in the form of a rash are most often localized to the mouth, nose and chin.

Classification (types) of impetigo

For an adequate assessment of the clinical course of the disease, it is necessary first of all to determine the types of the disease (annular, herpetiform impetigo, vulgar, bullous, streptococcal or staphylococcal impetigo), as well as the reasons for it development. As a rule, these species have the same developmental etiology, however, there are some visual differences between them.

STRETOCOCCAL IMPETIGO. It is best known as streptoderma or contagious impetigo, which is associated with high contagiousness. It is contagious and has an active distribution. The disease is characterized by the appearance on the mucous membrane and dermis of rashes with purulent contents (conflict), which later dry up with the formation of crusts or self-open, forming purulent-serous erosion.

The incubation period of the disease is 7-10 days. In the absence of treatment or untimely initiation of therapy, the disease quickly spreads to a healthy area of ​​the skin. Streptococcal impetigo can manifest itself in various clinical forms (cheilitis, streptococcal diaper rash, superficial panaritium, lichen). Most often, streptococcal impetigo is observed in children and women who have more delicate skin.

RING-SHAPED IMPETIGO. The causes of this disease are streptococcal damage to the epidermis with the formation of large conflicts. After opening, they become covered with a scab. After some time, bubbles may reappear in remote areas of the epidermis. Most often, symptoms are noted on the feet, lower legs (pictured), nail phalanges and the back of the palms on the hands.

BALLOUS IMPETIGO. This form of the disease has characteristic symptoms in the form of the formation of a two-centimeter bubble (pictured) with a dense lid, which is filled with purulent contents (sometimes mixed with blood). Bullous impetigo has no hereditary factor. In addition, it proceeds only acutely, without a chronic form. Unlike other types of impetigo, blisters do not appear where the skin is injured.

Bullous impetigo can occur in patients of all ages, including infants. Therapeutic measures are complicated by the development of severe edema around the area of ​​inflammation, fever and severe headache. The disease is most difficult if the patient has another skin disorder.

STAPHYLOCOCCAL IMPETIGO (OSTIOPHOLLICULITIS). Staphylococcal impetigo occurs as a result of infection with Staphylococcus aureus. The incubation period of the disease is 10-12 days. During this time, the skin becomes covered with pustules, the size of a pinhead and filled with purulent contents (pictured).

After 5-6 days, the pustule dries up, forming crusts, which subsequently fall off on their own. The staphylococcal form of impetigo in children is most often localized on the thighs, face, neck and forearms.

VULGAR IMPETIGO. This disease is provoked by staphylococci, which indicates the duration of the necessary treatment. As a rule, vulgar impetigo appears more often in women.

The rash is localized in the occipital region, joints and neck. In women, pyoderma is localized in the areola zone, in the stronger sex, rashes can appear on the penis. In childhood, this form of impetigo occurs as a result of complications of blepharitis, otitis media and rhinitis.

IMPETIGO BOKHART. The provocateur of this form of the disease is Staphylococcus aureus. Most often, the infection is localized on the face, forearms, neck and thighs. Impetigo Bockhart is characterized by multiple purulent skin rashes (pictured).

ANCIENT IMPETIGO. Treatment of this form of the disease requires special efforts, since it develops as a result of tonsillitis and conjunctivitis, hypovitaminosis and untreated caries. In this case, the appearance of superficial cracks in the corners of the mouth, eyes and wings of the nose.

In the acute period, patients experience severe soreness when opening the mouth, burning and excruciating itching. The slit-like form of the disease can be contracted in domestic conditions and during professional activities associated with direct contact between people. Often, slit-like impetigo can be complicated by fungal microflora, which requires a longer and more complex treatment.

HERPETIFORM IMPETIGO. Impetigo herpetiformis in medical practice is quite rare. As a rule, the infection is accompanied by the formation of small pustular plaques, edema and inflammation in the affected area. Rashes are observed in the groin and thighs, armpits and chest.

Herpetiform impetigo is quite difficult, often the symptoms are characterized by damage to the heart muscle, central nervous system, damage to large joints and infectious processes in the urinary tract. Impetigo herpetiformis must be treated in a hospital with hospitalization of the patient.

Impetigo treatment

Basically, this disease is treated on an outpatient basis, to exclude severe development of symptoms. Treatment of impetigo requires, first of all, procedures that help eliminate negative symptoms and improve the patient's condition.

Typically, the skin condition is treated with topical topical medications. The area of ​​skin with lesions (blisters) should be wiped 3-5 times a day with an alcoholic salicylic or camphor solution, avoiding the ingress of water.

Bubbles can be opened (subject to sterility), followed by treatment with the following ointments:

• Erythromycin;
• Heliomycin;
• Levomycetinova;
• Levomekolevaya.

Wounds should be treated for at least 10 days. In the event that streptoderma is complicated by the addition of a secondary infection, antibiotic therapy is prescribed (Flucloxacillin, Cephalexin, Amoxicillin). Aniline dyes (alcohol solution of brilliant green, Fukortsin, etc.) are successfully used to treat wounds. In addition, to strengthen the body's defenses, the patient is prescribed a course of vitamin therapy in injections or tablets (Multitabs, etc.).

It must be remembered that an infection in the acute stage prohibits all water procedures, as well as the use of loofahs, scrubs and cosmetic peels, otherwise the infectious process will spread to other areas body. During the illness, the patient should use separate personal hygiene products and utensils. In the children's collective, the obligatory treatment of the premises with disinfected agents should be carried out with the isolation of the sick child and the establishment of quarantine.

In addition, pyoderma requires adherence to a special diet with the exclusion of all sugar-containing foods, since it is glucose that is a breeding ground for the spread of microorganisms. It is helpful to add foods rich in vitamin C to your diet.

It is recommended to treat impetigo in children on an individual basis, since in each case, therapeutic measures depend on the severity of streptoderma, the degree of its development, the general condition of the baby and his age. It is important to remember that streptoderma, especially in childhood, requires the rapid adoption of emergency measures, since late treatment and improper child care can lead to serious complications, up to sepsis. With timely therapy, the period of remission occurs within 2-3 weeks.

Traditional methods of treating impetigo

Many patients actively use traditional medicine to get rid of unpleasant symptoms of skin diseases, among which the following recipes are most famous:

• it is necessary to take in equal amounts pharmacy chamomile, horsetail root and elecampane, calendula, plantain and St. John's wort. The prepared mixture of medicinal herbs should be poured with boiling water (1 liter) and boiled for 10-15 minutes. After cooling, the solution is filtered and taken in ¼ glasses before meals;
• comfrey grass is crushed and brewed with boiling water, after which it is left for 7-10 minutes to infuse. After cooling with the solution, it is recommended to treat the inflamed skin areas;

• flaxseeds are poured with cold water and boiled over a fire for 5-7 minutes, after which the solution is cooled, filtered and applied in the form of lotions to the affected areas;
• to dry the bubbles, you can use a powder from the spores of a club-shaped lymphoid, which is sprinkled on the affected area;
• for internal use, it is recommended to prepare a decoction of alder cones, chamomile flowers, aralia roots, licorice, leuzea and kopeck. All ingredients are crushed, filled with water and kept for 5 minutes on fire, after which they are filtered and taken inside 1/3 cup before meals;
• In addition, during the period of acute development of symptoms, it is recommended to use an alcoholic tincture of calendula to wipe the skin in the foci of impetigo.

Despite the widespread use of traditional medicine recipes in the treatment of impetigo, doctors are ambiguous refer to this way of getting rid of negative manifestations, claiming that it plays the main role, namely prevention.

It is important to remember that the prognosis of the disease is favorable. As a rule, after drug treatment, there is no threat to the patient's health. However, it should be borne in mind that the wrong approach to the infectious process and untimely prevention impetigo can cause the infection to spread to the lymphatic system with subsequent complications.