Watching for Staph Infections in Your Kids

Staph infections can be common in children, who spend a lot of time in close proximity to each other and are more prone to cuts and scrapes. At the same time, infections caused by staph bacteria can cause serious side effects in children and even death. Here are the signs and symptoms you should watch for to protect your kids.

Symptoms of staph infections can vary depending on where the infection is. Common symptoms include: boils, an abscess within the skin; cellulites, a skin infection that is red, painful, and warm; follicultis, an infection of the hair follicles; impetigo, blisters or honey colored lesions on the skin; and paronychia, an infection of the nails.

Staph bacteria can also cause infections elsewhere in the body besides the skin. Other infections include: bacteremia, an infection of the blood; abscesses, a collection of pus; endocarditis, an infection of the heart; food poisoning; lymphadenitis, an infection of the lymph glands; lymphangitis, an infection of the lymph channels; osteomyelitis, an infection of the bones; scalded skin syndrome; septic arthritis; styes; and toxic shock syndrome.

Diagnosis of your child’s skin infection is done based on the symptoms and the physical exam by the pediatrician. However, these are not enough to determine what type of bacteria is causing the infection. In many cases, all types of bacteria will respond to antibiotic treatments, however, in the case of MRSA a culture will need to be done to determine the type of bacteria and what it is susceptible to.

Treatments for staph infections generally include a course of antibiotics. This may include cream or ointment for small areas, compresses and drainage for abscesses, or oral or intravenous antibiotics.

Cephalexin and Cefadroxil are commonly used antibiotics; however, these may not treat MRSA. For MRSA, stronger antibiotics like Clindamycin or Bactrim may be used, or even Vancomycin. In some cases, surgical drainage of abscesses may be required.

To protect yourself and your children from staph and MRSA there are some things that you should know.

S. aureus bacteria are common on the skin and in the nasal passageways of both children and adults. Children who pick their noses can easily transmit it to other children. To get rid of a staph colonization, all members of the family may need to use a nasal gel and bath with an antiseptic skin cleanser for a week. Frequent hand washing can also help.

Draining an abscess can be painful for your child, but it can be the best way to get rid of an infection. However, this should only be done by your child’s pediatrician – do not attempt at home.

If you are concerned about your child’s infection and the rate of healing, talk to your doctor about getting cultures done and alternative antibiotics that might speed things along. Zyvox is an antibiotic that can be used for skin infections in children, including MRSA which is resistant to many standard treatments.

All bites, scrapes, and rashes on your child should be kept clean, dry, and covered. If there is any sign of infection, have them immediately checked out by a doctor.

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All articles on this site are for information only and should not be treated as medical advice.
If you experience any symptoms, consult a medical professional.