Definition
Impetigo portrays a common contagious skin infection, also known as pyoderma ; impetigo can involve any anatomical site, although it manifests itself above all on legs, arms and face. Furthermore, it is observed that impetigo affects mainly children rather than adults.
Causes
Impetigo is a bacterial infection caused by gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus piogene ; the proliferation of bacteria is favored by crowding, poor hygiene and a hot-humid climate (it is no coincidence that the disease tends to occur especially in summer).
Symptoms
The clinical symptomatic picture of impetigo is characterized by the formation of cutaneous serous bubbles, erythema on the face (nose and chin) and at the level of the navel (in the suckling), itching. Subsequently, the bubbles, initially serous, become opaque and are transformed into abrasions and yellowish crusts, which soon infect the surrounding areas.
- Complications: regional lymphadenopathy, renal complications, formation of itchy ulcers (ectima), permanent scarring
Information on Impetigo - Drugs for the Treatment of Impetigo is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Impetigo - Impetigo Treatment Medicines.
drugs
Impetigo requires immediate therapies, given the risk of the disease developing into serious complications; when the infection involves small areas of skin, it is possible to treat the disease with topically applied drugs. If the patient suffering from impetigo does not notice any appreciable improvement following the local application of specific creams or sprays, it is recommended to start a systemic antibiotic therapy (oral administration). Antiseptics, to be applied locally, can assist antibiotic therapy, since they soften skin lesions, crusts and exudate.
Topical antibiotics for the treatment of impetigo: before applying the antibiotic to the skin, it is recommended to thoroughly cleanse the area with mild detergents, and to dry the skin thoroughly.
- Retapamulin (eg. Altargo): it is an antibiotic formulated in the form of an ointment for the short-term treatment of bacterial infections, including impetigo. It is recommended to apply a layer of ointment on the damaged skin, previously cleansed and dried, twice a day for 5 days. It is also advisable to cover the area with a sterile bandage.
- Fusidic acid (eg Fucidin cream, Dermomycin cream, Fucidin ointment): apply the antibiotic product to the area affected by the impetigo 3-4 times a day. The duration of therapy should not last more than 10 days, given the possibility of the drug developing resistance.
- Mupirocin (eg Bactroban cream or ointment Mupiskin ointment): to be used for the treatment of infections sustained by Staphylococcus aureus in the context of impetigo; the product is not indicated for the treatment of impetigo sustained by Pseudomonas. It is possible to apply a layer of antibiotic cream directly on the lesion caused by impetigo three times a day; the duration of therapy should not exceed 10 days.
- Neomycin (eg Localyn cream, Idroco A / Neom ointment, Cicatrene powder): this drug is also used to treat impetigo in the short-term treatment. It is recommended to apply the drug three times a day on the site affected by the infection. Neomycin can cause hypersensitization.
- Polymyxin B (Bacitr Polim FN ointment): apply the drug to the affected area twice or more within 24 hours, unless otherwise instructed by the doctor.
- Argentinian sulfadiazine (eg Sofargen cream): indicated for treating infected burns in the field of impetigo. Also suitable for the treatment of bedsores. Apply the product on the skin once a day, every other day. Consult your doctor. The drug can cause allergic reactions, burning and skin rash.
- Metronidazole (eg Rozex cream, skin emulsion or foam, Zidoval gel, Rosiced cream): the topical application of this drug for the treatment of impetigo lesions is rather unusual and bizarre: this drug is used both in therapy and to break down the beat implicated in infection, and to reduce the odor originating from anaerobic microorganism lesions. Consult your doctor.
- Sulconazole (eg. Exelderm): indicated for treating impetigo in cases of proven or presumed mycotic co-infection. It is recommended to apply a thin layer of cream directly on the injured skin, after having cleaned and dried the area. Do not apply more than one layer of cream per day. Consult your doctor.
Systemic antibiotics for the treatment of impetigo
- Flucloxacillin (eg. Flucloxacillin GNT): for infections sustained by bacteria sensitive to flucloxacillin, implicated in the manifestation of impetigo, it is recommended to take 1 tablet of 1 gram of drug, every 6-8 hours, preferably before a meal. Consult your doctor for more information.
- Loracarbef (eg Lorabid): the drug is a second-generation cephalosporin, indicated for the treatment of impetigo in children. For subjects aged between 6 months and 12 years, it is recommended to administer the drug orally at a dose of 7.5 mg / kg every 12 hours, for a week. Do not exceed 400 mg within 24 hours. For children aged 13 or over, the indicative dose is 200 mg, to be taken by mouth every 12 hours for 7 days.
- Cefadroxil (eg Duricef): this drug (first-generation cephalosporin), like the previous one, is also indicated for the treatment of impetigo in children. For infants aged 1 month or older, it is recommended to administer 30 mg / kg per day of active by the oral route, possibly divided into two doses. Do not exceed 2 grams per day.
Among the other antibiotic drugs with systemic action, used in therapy for the treatment of impetigo, are also recalled erythromycin (macrolide: eg Erythrocin, Erythro L, Lauromycin) and cefuroxime (cephalosporin: ex. Cefoprim, Tilexim, Zoref, Zinnat), whose dosage must be established by the doctor.
Antiseptics for the treatment of impetigo lesions
- Iodopovidone (eg. Betadine cutaneous solution / skin spray): the drug is a disinfectant of the skin affected by wounds, lesions or sores: for this reason it is often used in therapy for impetigo as an adjuvant of antibiotic treatment. Indicatively, apply the skin solution (10%) twice a day on the lesion. The drug contains iodine: do not use in case of thyroid disorders. Do not prolong the therapy for too long, to avoid episodes of sensitization.
- Chlorhexidine gluconate (eg Disinfene cream, Clorex G FN concentrate, Cetrifarm cutaneous solution): the drug is a synthetic disinfectant with a broad spectrum of action, therefore able to exert a good antiseptic activity against gram-negative and gram-positive pathogens, in addition to that against mushrooms. The drug exerts its therapeutic activity by exaggeratingly increasing the membrane permeability of the pathogen's cells, consequently their protein structure is heavily altered, causing the lysis of the bacteria or fungus. Particularly useful in cleansing damaged and infected skin, even in the context of impetigo.
