What happens if impetigo is left untreated

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Search this site Search all sites Search. Go to whole of WA Government Search. Open search bar Open navigation Submit search. Health conditions. Facebook Youtube Twitter. Home Health conditions Impetigo school sores. Impetigo school sores What is impetigo? How do you get impetigo? Who is most at risk? Signs and symptoms The sores will appear 1 to 3 days after a person has been infected. Symptoms of severe impetigo infection If large areas of the skin are infected, symptoms may also include: fever swollen lymph glands generally feeling unwell malaise.

How do I know I have impetigo? If you or anyone in your family has any of these symptoms see your doctor for a diagnosis. Treatment of impetigo Impetigo can be treated with prescription antibiotic ointments or creams, which need to be reapplied until the sores have completely healed. Impetigo can cause skin abscesses if left untreated. While you have the infection Wash sores with soap every 8 to 12 hours and pat them dry using a fresh towel each time.

You can also use a crepe bandage to hold the dressing in place. This can help stop younger children from scratching the sores. Change linen towels, sheets, face washer, sleep wear daily while the infection is present. Symptoms of severe impetigo infection If large areas of the skin are affected, symptoms may also include: fever swollen lymph glands general feeling of unwellness malaise. Diagnosis of impetigo Impetigo may be diagnosed by an experienced clinician on the basis of the appearance of the infection.

Treatment of impetigo Impetigo can be treated with prescription antibiotic ointments or creams, which need to be reapplied until the sores have completely healed. Care of the impetigo infection at home Suggestions for home care include: Wash the sores lesions with an antibacterial or antiseptic soap every eight to 12 hours, soaking off visible crust. After each wash, pat the lesions dry.

Use a clean towel each time. Apply a waterproof occlusive dressing completely cover and seal the area where possible to stop further spread of the infection. Use a crepe bandage to hold the dressing in place or help prevent younger children from scratching the sores.

See your doctor if the sores spread and get worse despite treatment, or if the child becomes unwell with fever. Avoid spreading impetigo Impetigo blisters and crusts are filled with bacteria.

Suggestions to reduce the risk of transmission to other family members include: Encourage everyone to wash their hands with soap frequently, and dry completely. A child with impetigo should be kept home from school or day care until appropriate treatment has begun and the sores on exposed areas are covered with a waterproof occlusive dressing. Avoid scratching or touching the sores to prevent spread to other areas of the body. Use a crepe bandage if necessary. Keep affected areas of skin clean and covered to minimise the chance of spreading the infection.

Always wash your hands with soap before and after touching sores or scabs. Encourage children to use their own towel and face cloth. No sharing. Wash all household linen in hot water while the infection is present.

Dispose of used dressings promptly and thoroughly. Wash and dry hands after the dressings have been disposed of into a plastic bag and place bag into household waste. Impetigo is dangerous for newborns Keep the infected person well away from young babies. More information here. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Friedler says impetigo could end up affecting the face and the eyes, where it can cause swelling.

Or it could spread from the outermost layers of the skin to deeper layers. If impetigo continues to spread and worsen, other bacterial infections can result. Impetigo that progresses without being treated can turn into abscesses or boils on the skin, Shubin says. The recommended treatment changes radically with the development of abscesses.

Impetigo can also lead to cellulitis , which is an infection that affects the tissue beneath the skin. Cellulitis is pretty common, but it can become serious if it goes untreated and spreads to the lymph nodes and bloodstream. In most cases, rheumatic fever starts as strep throat rather than a skin infection like impetigo. Be on the lookout for signs of rheumatic fever, which include fever, joint pain, fatigue, and chest pain.

Leaving impetigo untreated means the bacteria could eventually hit the bloodstream. Once that happens, the potential complications become quite serious. The most serious potential complication is poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Streptococcus bacteria causes inflammation within the blood vessels of the kidneys, which can keep the kidneys from being able to filter urine and could lead to kidney failure.

It normally occurs after having a skin infection like impetigo for three or four weeks and leaving it untreated. If any of those side effects do occur, be sure to visit a health care provider. For instance, if you or your child has dry, cracked skin, using moisturizer regularly can make a world of difference.

Cuts and bug bites are inevitable, though. Once you see something, cover up the area where the skin has been compromised with Bactroban mupirocin and a bandage, Friedler suggests. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.