COMMON SKIN INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN

WHY DOES YOUR CHILD GET SKIN INFECTION?

Your child's defence system (immune system) is not fully developed till puberty and can catch infections.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON SKIN INFECTIONS?

These are:

• Bacterial infections, producing blisters, wet pus, boils.
• Viral infection showing lumps called warts, molluscum, contagiosum, blisters like herpes, simplex, shingles, chickenpox, and rashes like measles.
• Fungal infections, like ringworm, candidiosis, tinea infections caused by e.g. versicolor.
• Parasites, called scabies.

Bacterial infections

This is usually a staphylococcal infection. Antibiotics taken orally, or applied on the skin, is given.

Viral infections

• A viral wart is treated by liquid nitrogen, a cold gas. You can use a corn plaster with salicylic acid.
• Molluscum contagiosum, present as small skin colour lumps, require treatment.

Chickenpox

• Usually not a major problem, however with extensive cases, use an anti-viral drug called acyclovir for a few days.

Scabies

• This is an annoying problem caused by a mite, sarcopes. It causes itch and blisters on the hands and feet.
• Below 1 year, use permethrin cream, beyond a year of age, Derbac (malathione 5%) is preferred.