Impetigo is one of those diseases that spreads rapidly from one child to another in daycare centers and schools. Natural remedies for children's impetigo include grapefruit seed extract, colloidal silver, turmeric and dietary changes. Impetigo is an extremely contagious skin infection that adults can also catch (sometimes from their own children).
Preventing the spread of impetigo is easier than treating more patients. Be careful when washing any infected area, as the germs will spread. The child should have his/her own disposable sponge and towel that are not used by anyone else and changed or washed frequently. Do not use harsh detergents.
Some strains of Staphylococcus Aureaus have become resistant to antibiotics. Many consider it a good idea to treat impetigo with natural remedies, especially In the early stages. Although impetigo usually heals naturally over two to three weeks, natural remedies can heal it sooner and with fewer symptoms. (If antibiotics are used, be sure to supplement with a good probiotic during and after the treatment.)
Grapefruit Seed Extract is a very powerful antioxidant and non-toxic disinfectant. Among its many benefits, it is effective when used for topical skin infections, such as impetigo.
An Earth Clinic reader sent this post to us. "My son had a few spots of impetigo around his mouth and nose. I swabbed them three times a day with Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) in water. I use a solution of 1 tablespoon of water and 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract. I was really pleased with how quickly it worked."
Substiture Aloe Vera Juice for the water in the treatment above (1 tablespoon of Aloe Vera Juice with 10 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract). The Aloe Vera Juice will help cool the rash and stop much of the itching.
Colloidal silver and turmeric are "must-haves" for many Earth Clinic readers. Earth Clinic's frequent poster, Mama to Many, sent us this record of her successful treatment of her son's impetigo.
"My nine year old son had impetigo under his nose. I sprayed colloidal silver onto the area every time I thought of it. (Probably 5 times a day.) It cleared up in a few days. I think it cleared up easily with the silver because he was already taking turmeric for something else. He was taking 4 capsules (or 1 teaspoon) twice a day. That may be a lot of turmeric for a 9 year old, but he is a big boy and has taken turmeric often in the past, so I knew that it would be fine for him. Usually for a child of that age I would use 1/2 teaspoon of 2 capsules twice a day."
Please check the Impetigo Table of Contents on the right hand side of this page for a full list of natural treatments for children's impetigo.
Impetigo is usually seen in young children between the ages of 2 to 6. It is seen most often during the summer and early fall. The first sign that should alert a parent or other adult is red, oozing sores or blisters near the lips or nose. The sores are infected with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureaus. When the child scratches (this is very itchy), the infection spreads quickly across the face and to other parts of the body. In a few days, a yellow-brown crust forms over the oozing sores. The bacteria easily spread when someone touches the sores or an item contaminated with the bacteria, such as clothing, bed linen, towels and toys. Hands and fingernails are the most common source of contamination, spreading the germs.
Infants in diapers can develop the more serious bullous impetigo and ecthyma. Bullous Impetigo presents as larger blisters on the trunk and diaper area. Ecthyma is a more serious progression in which the blisters form deep, painful fluid- or pus-filled sores that penetrate into the skin and can develop into deep ulcers.
Be aware that in rare cases, impetigo can become quite serious in children with compromised immune systems as the bacteria can cause strep throat and scarlet fever. Complications such as heart and kidney disease, pneumonia and meningitis can develop. Impetigo can also appear as a secondary infection following atopic eczema, scabies or head lice.
Continue reading below for more impetigo remedies from Earth Clinic readers. Please let us know about your own favorite treatments for impetigo.
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