School sores are easily spread around school age children and are not fun. Our School sores article gives you ideas about how to keep your child sore-free.
School sores is the common name for impetigo, which is a skin condition caused by the bacteria staphylococcus (`staph’) or streptococcus (`strep’) and is easily spread around school age children.
It appears as pimples, with blisters that scab. It is common in children over one year and often appears in late summer and autumn.
In the early stages it is often confused with cold sores, but the conditions require different treatment (Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which once contracted can lie dormant and reoccur throughout life).
Impetigo is highly infectious, so you need to keep your child away from school until the condition has cleared.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Impetigo normally begins around the nose or mouth but can appear anywhere on the body, including the arms and legs and moist areas such as the armpit or groin. In babies impetigo can appear in the nappy area. The condition spreads rapidly.
- It first appears as reddened skin
- Red pimples then appear
- Blisters of pus develop that eventually burst – these leave patches of yellow-crusted rash in older children.
- If the blister is rubbed off, it leaves raw areas exposed.
- Your child may also develop swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpit and groin
What is the treatment?
Take your child to the doctor. Although the condition is not serious, it needs to be dealt with as it spreads easily and is contagious.
Antibiotics will be prescribed in the form of cream/ointment or an oral antibiotic preparation. Ensure your child finishes the dose of oral antibiotics and do not use the antibiotic cream/ointment on anyone else.
Some areas may need a dressing.
Home care primarily involves hygiene practices to keep your child clean and to prevent the impetigo spreading.
Risks & Complications
Conditions such as bites, scratches or eczema that allow bacteria to penetrate the skin also increase susceptibility to develop impetigo.
Serious complications are rare, but if untreated, there is a possibility the streptococcus bacteria can cause acute kidney disease.
Cellulitis, an infection deeper in the skin, can also occur in rare cases.
Young babies who contract impetigo can become very ill.
Re-visit your doctor if impetigo becomes more widespread despite treatment, or if your child becomes feverish and unwell.
What can I do?
Home care for your child focuses on keeping them clean, comfortable and avoiding the spread of impetigo to other family members.
- Be meticulous with hygiene, gently washing away crusted impetigo areas with warm water and then patting dry (use paper or kitchen towels or disposable face cloths that will not be re-used).
- Do not force the crusts off the skin, just cleanse away if they slide off easily. Do not pop blisters. Any raw areas should be left exposed to the air to help them dry out.
- Apply antibiotic cream with a cotton swab or put directly onto a clean dressing – do not squeeze the cream directly onto the sore from the tube, as this will transfer the infection to the tube.
- Keep a close eye on any new patches of impetigo and if you find them, start treating immediately.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before and after treating the impetigo and discard old dressings and cotton swabs carefully.
- Discourage your child from touching or picking at impetigo and get them to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly. Keep their nails trimmed short.
- Wash towels, flannels, pyjamas, sheets, pillowslips and clothes in hot water and change regularly. Launder their clothes and linen separately to other family members’ – and do not allow them to share towels or other linens.
- Ensure your child bathes once or twice a day
- Keep eating utensils separate from those used by others in the family.
- To keep children comfortable, put them in loose clothing and at night try to ensure sheets or pyjamas are not irritating the skin.
- Keep your child away from other children and babies until the condition has cleared. No children should be sent to school with school sores.
- All family members need to be meticulous about hand washing and cleanliness to ensure no cross infection occurs.
How to reduce the risk of school sores
- Keep finger nails short
- Bath or shower daily to keep skin clean
- Keep any bites or cuts covered while kids are playing outside or at school, to prevent infection entering the body by this route
- Ensure your children do not share swimming towels with friends
- Change bedding after sleep overs
Useful links
School sores can be mistaken for other rashes and skin conditions. To read about other causes of childhood rashes visit Rashes/Skin Conditions
The other dreaded problem for school children is head lice - read about how to prevent or treat them in our Kiwi Families article Head Lice
Article School Sores written by Paula Skelton. Paula is a qualified nurse and midwife, a midwifery and childbirth educator, and the mum of three lovely girls.