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Impetigo - Impetigo Treatments & Symptoms

What is Impetigo ?

Impetigo is an extremely contagious skin infection. This is essentially a disease of childhood, though it may also occur frequently in adults. It is usually prevalent in infants & younger children following a cold. The infection can spread rapidly from one child to another by close contact, especially during the early years in schools. The impetigo is more common in the areas with unhygienic conditions.

What cause Impetigo ?

Impetigo is caused by staphylococci & occasionally by streptococci germs. The organism can spread quickly, particularly among children, causing an outbreak of the disease. Impetigo may also occur as a secondary phenomenon in atopic eczema, scabies & Human head louse infestation.

The real cause of the disease, however is constitutional, resulting from malnutrition due to wrong & unhygienic habits of living. It is easily passed from the affected child to other children, who are in a similar sate of toxicity & impaired vitality, through contact.

What are Impetigo symptom & How it look like ?

At first, impetigo appears as a small fluid filled vesicle usually around the nose or lips. The infection can spread to other parts of the face & occasionally other parts of the body by the child's irresistible urge to scratch, & also due to presence of bacteria in large numbers. The vesicle rapidly crusts over, forming a yellowish scab which can be easily knocked off, leaving a raw, weeping surface.

Impetigo Treatment - Information on Impetigo Treatments

Early & adequate treatment of the first small patch of impetigo can prevent the spread of the disease. The child patient should be kept isolated until the condition is cleared up, so as to prevent the spread of infection. He should be prevented from scratching the scabs. He should have his own sponge & towel. No other member of the family should use these articles. They should be changed frequently & washed separately. The use of harsh detergent should be avoided clothes should be thoroughly rinsed.

The treatment of impetigo is essentially constitutional & it should consist of proper diet, correct hygienic & fresh air. The best way to commence the treatment is to place the patient on all fruit diet for two or three days. In this regimen, he should be given fresh juicy fruits such as orange, apple, pineapple, grapes, pear & papaya. In case of older children, however, it would be advisable to commence the treatment by placing him on a diet of orange juice & water for about three days. This may be followed by an all fruit diet for further three days.

After the all fruit diet, the patient may embark upon a well balanced diet consisting of milk, seeds, nuts & grains, vegetables & fruits. The emphasis should be on fresh fruits, rae salads & fresh milk.

Natural Home Remedy For Impetigo Treatment.

1. The use of turnip (salgum) is one such remedy. A few chopped turnip pieces after thorough cleaning should be immersed in rice starch (kangi) or any natural vinegar for about six hours. They should then be eaten by the impetigo patient.
2. Garlic is useful in relieving constant itching caused by this disease. This vegetable should be crushed & spread over irritated areas. One or two cloves of garlic should be chewed for better results.
3. Other helpful measures for treating this disease are sun & air baths, a daily dry friction, sponge & breathing & other light exercises.

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