Impetigo - How Effective Is Homeopathy In It?

Impetigo is one of the most contagious skin infections that affect young children and in rare cases, adults. This rash can usually be seen on the face, neck and hands of children between the ages of 2 and 6 and in the groin area in the case of diaper wearing infants. This infection is not life threatening and is usually resolved within two or three weeks.

Homeopathy can be easily used to treat this condition. Homeopathy is a holistic form of treatment that has negligible side effects. This makes it an ideal form of treatment for infections that affect children. However, before any form of homeopathic medication can be prescribed for impetigo, it is essential to understand the causes and symptoms of this disease.

This condition can be triggered by the effects of two types of bacteria; bacteria-strep (streptococcus pyogenes) and staph (staphylococcus aureus). This is important to note as the form of treatment depends on the type of bacteria that triggered the condition. In most cases, bacteria infect the body through an open wound or irritated skin that has been affected by eczema, insect bites etc. Bacteria can also affect the skin under a child’s nose that is raw due to a cold or allergies. However, sometimes, it can also affect healthy skin.

The infection can spread from one child to another through close contact or by sharing clothing, towels, sheets, toys etc. This puts children attending daycare at high risk of contracting this infection. Other factors that can raise the risk of suffering from impetigo are diabetes, poor hygiene, dermatitis, warm and humid weather and low immunity. Children who participate in contact sports such as football are also at high risk of contracting this infection.

Open sores are the most noticeable symptom of this condition. These sores begin as small red spots on the skin that may be as small as a pimple or as large as a coin. With time, they gradually develop into fluid-filled blisters. These blisters either burst on their own to form open sores or are created when children scratch them. Once open, these sores ooze for a few days before forming a yellowish crust.

Though these sores are not painful, they are very itchy. By scratching the sores, they can spread from one part of the body to another and increase in size. The longer this disease is left untreated, the higher the chances of scarring and hence it is essential to consult a doctor as soon as you start noticing any of its symptoms.