Week 9 Nurse Practitioner: Impetigo (Essay Sample)

Week 9 Nurse Practitioner: Impetigo Name Institution Affiliation Week 9 Nurse Practitioner: Impetigo Introduction Impetigo is a contagious, superficial skin condition, which occurs in bullous and nonbullous forms. This vesiculopustular eruptive disorder spreads mostly among infants and children, besides, few cases in the elderly persons. The occurrence of this condition often results in skin conditions complication in the form of open lesions. This skin infection is a creation of either staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria; hence, any direct contact with fluid from an infected area will result in its transmission. Contrary to the myth that poor hygiene causes this skin infection, inadequate hygiene does not cause it. The paper purposes to compare and contrast impetigo condition in infancy, childhood and adulthood based on the frequency of occurrence, anatomical distribution of rash, treatment of the infection and its transmission. Frequency of Occurrence Impetigo is a seasonal condition, which is prevalent in summer with the affliction of people living in warm and humid environments. These areas, for instance, the southeastern United States have documented frequency of the condition with the antecedent infection preceding AGN (Fleisher, & Ludwig, 2010). Impetigo occurs in diverse forms among all age groups but with highest prevalent in children. Among the infants, the condition is a disease of high toxicity, which demands prompt treatment. A failure to seek treatment will result in ecthyma, which is a virulent form of impetigo illustrated by large-angry-looking boils, thick golden-yellow crusts as well as sores encircled by red skin. In the infants, the annual incident of this condition is at 2.8 percent up to the age of about four years. However, in the children the annual incidence of this condition stands at 1.6 percent for the children between the age bracket of five and fifteen years. In comparison to the impetigo prevalence in infants and children, the frequency of occurrence among adults is rare and merely occurs among elderly adults in warm and humid environments typified with inadequate hygiene (Khardori, & Wattal, 2010). In terms of frequency of occurrence of impetigo, S. aureus is the primary causative agent as compared to Streptococcal impetigo. The bullous form of impetigo, whose causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage group II (type 71), which primarily occurs in newborns and children as compared to the adults. The bullous form of impetigo accounts for ten percent of cases of impetigo (Khardori, & Wattal, 2010). Anatomical Distribution of Rash The description of rash distribution among persons with impetigo is often focal facial rashes, which connote that the rashes primarily entail the face, neck, and head. The rash anatomical distribution in persons with impetigo is superficial, which means that the rashes only affect the skin surface hence the rashes are shallow. The presence of rashes among the infants, the children and adults are similar where the regions affected by the rashes are faces, head and at times necks. The distribution of rashes is localized to the periorbital or facial regions. The appearance of the rashes is evident concerning erythematous lesions with small papules. These lesions always bust to exude yellow-brown honey-colored crusts over the affected regions (Chung, 2010). Among the infants with impetigo, the distribution of rashes is predominantly from the neck downwards, which is contrary to the children. The distribution of rashes in children involves the neck and the face. In comparison to the distribution of rashes in infants and children, in adults, the distribution of rashes in the form of lesions is infinite in the hands, particularly the web spaces, besides, the hypothenar and thenar eminences. Nonetheless, it is crucial to acknowledge also that the proximal half of the feet and heels, as well as the palms, are sites of many lesions among the infants (Chung, 2010). Treatment and Consideration The occurrence of impetigo in infants is a cause for alarm because of its contagious nature. A diagnosis of impetigo in infants entails treatment with antibiotics such as Bacitracin and Neosporin. Moreover, the treatment must involve caring for the infant to prevent the spread of the condition evident in following contact (wound and skin) precautions, for instance, wearing gloves and cover gowns. Segregation is necessary especially in cases where the infant is in a nursery. The crusts can be soaked off with warm water followed by application of topical antibiotics such as Bacitracin and Neosporin. Moreover, applying elbow restraints or covering of the hands of the infant is essential to prevent scratching of the lesions (Fleisher, & Ludwig, 2010). In the instance of children, the treatment of impetigo can be at home by the caregiver or parent. The parent or caregiver has to learn to implement hygiene practices with the objectives of limiting its spread. Lesions, which are primarily on the face, may often occur in other body parts. Lesions being pruritic, the caregiver must teach the child to keep their hands and fingers from the lesions, in addition to, trimming their nails to avoid lesion scratching. Sharing of washcloths and towels must be prevented in the family to avoid spread. The treatment of impetigo in children entails erythromycin or oral penicillin for ten days. Daily cleaning of crusts through washing speeds up healing as well as using Mupirocin (Bactroban) ointment (Krieg, Bickers, & Miyachi, 2010). In adults, the treatment impetigo entails the use of diverse types of antibiotics. These antibiotics include Amoxicillin and clavulanate (Augmentin), cephalexin (Keflex Keftab), cefadroxil (Duricef), and dicloxacillin (Pathocil). These antibiotics are orally taken for a period between seven and ten days. Nonetheless, it is essential to acknowledge that countries such as the United Kingdom discourage the treatment of impetigo in adults with oral penicillin alone because of the dermal Group A Streptococcal ...