Monday, June 30, 2008 Poyogao: On Skin Infections By Betty Bagares-Poyogao, M.D Pediacosset
LAST week's article was about the common infectious diseases children acquired from school. This time, I came up with some of the skin diseases common among children according to the number of cases I see in my practice.
Impetigo or commonly called talipaso in our dialect are cigarette-burnt lesions on the skin. They appear as rounded, reddish, itchy skin sores with raw base that appear singly or in clusters. It is a bacterial infection and highly contagious. When scratched, it spreads rapidly in other parts of the body. One can get infected through direct contact with an infected person. Don't delay treatment if your child has impetigo. To reduce the risk of infecting others, cover newly formed lesions, treat it with antibiotics, use antibacterial soap when washing the infected areas and use separate clothings, linens or towels. If left untreated, the simple skin lesions could cause infection of the kidneys, which is a rare event.
Boil or commonly called mata-tiki is also a common skin infection among children. It starts as an erythematous swelling filled with pus. A yellow or white point at the center of the swelling can be seen when it is ready to drain pus. Hence, the name, mata-tiki. It is a bacterial infection resulting to infected hair follicle on the skin. The lesions can be found anywhere on the body. To prevent its spread, treat the lesions with antibiotics. A warm compress applied to the affected area will help reduce the swelling and hasten the drainage of pus. Never prick the swelling as it will only complicate the infection.
Scabies or commonly called korikong are also common among children. This is caused by a mite. It can produce severe, itchy skin rashes when the impregnated female mite penetrates into the layers of the skin and deposits eggs. Initially, a rash will appear and with severe scratching, the rash will become infected. Thus, a bacterial infection sets in. There are several medications available and I personally recommend the use of permethrin lotion, which is less toxic to humans but is quite expensive. To prevent reinfestation, it is recommended to wash and hot iron all beddings, clothings and towels that have been in contact with scabies infection. Treat all household members with or without infection. A clean environment will ensure absence of scabies infection.
The skin is the largest organ in the body. Take care of it. Infections of the skin can be prevented with a healthy body, good personal hygiene and clean surroundings. Prevention is always the key.
