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Bullous impetigo is characterized by the appearance of blisters on the skin of varying size that can break and leave reddish marks on the skin and is usually caused by bacteria of the type Staphylococcus aureus or gender Streptococcus.
Impetigo is a highly contagious infection and is more frequent in children, and symptoms may appear a few days after birth, for example. The treatment is established by the pediatrician or general practitioner according to the microorganism responsible for the infection, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and saline compresses in the lesions is usually recommended.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of bullous impetigo can appear in a localized or disseminated form, that is, in several parts of the body, being most often found on the face, legs, belly and extremities. The main symptoms of bullous impetigo are:
- Appearance of wounds and blisters containing yellowish liquid on the skin;
- Fever above 38ºC;
- General malaise;
- Emergence of red spots or crusts on the skin after the blisters burst.
Bullous impetigo is more common in babies in the first days of life, being called neonatal or newborn bullous impetigo. Here's how to identify impetigo.
The diagnosis is made by the pediatrician or general practitioner through the evaluation of the lesions and microbiological examination, which consists of the analysis of the liquid present inside the bubbles, making it possible to determine which bacterium is responsible for impetigo and which is the best antibiotic for the treatment.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for bullous impetigo varies according to the microorganism responsible for the infection, however it is usually recommended to make compresses with saline in the blisters and to take antibiotics according to the medical recommendation. In more extensive cases, where there are several bubbles, it may be necessary to carry out a control of the hydroelectrolytic balance.
In the event that bullous impetigo arises while the baby is still in the maternity ward, it is important that the nursing staff evaluate the other children in the area so that an early diagnosis can be made and treatment can be started. Learn more about treatment for impetigo.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- JUNIOR, Walter B .; DI CHIACCHIO, Nilton; CREATED, Paulo R. Dermatology Treaty. 2nd ed. São Paulo: Atheneu, 2014. 837-839; 1187-1189.
- BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF DERMATOLOGY. Impetigo. Available in: . Accessed on 03 Apr 2019
- BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF PEDIATRICS. Antimicrobials in Pediatric Clinical Practice: Practical Guide for Outpatient, Emergency and Infirmary Management. Available in: . Accessed on 03 Apr 2019