A staph infection that develops in an infant can be serious. It can lead to the sloughing of the skin which puts the child prone to dehydration and other forms of infection or might only result to minor skin irritation and blistering. Generally, most of the infections respond to antibiotics.
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Common forms of staph infection in children
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is an indication of a staph infection in infants. The staph bacteria can colonize the hair follicles, leading to itchy, irritated skin that might be covered with bumps filled with pus.
Proper hygiene can help settle mild cases but if not treated, it can spread into the sebaceous glands of the skin, leading to the formation of large pockets filled with pus known as boils. These can be painful and might require antibiotics as treatment.
Impetigo
Staph infections can lead to impetigo which is blistering around the mouth and nose. Even though it is common among school-aged children, it can also affect infants who were exposed to the bacteria.
The blisters are filled with fluid, rupture and leave crusted, reddened areas of exposed deep skin layers. The condition easily spreads especially if scratched. The bacteria beneath the fingernails can be transmitted to other infants or children.
Scalded skin syndrome
One manifestation of a staph infection among infants is red, peeling skin that appears that it has been burned.
This condition manifests initially as fever and reddening of the skin. The blisters filled with fluid start to form on the skin, generally around the umbilicus area. Once the blisters rupture, they leave raw, damp areas of peeling skin behind.
Meningitis
In some instances, a staph infection can lead to meningitis or infection that affects the tissue layers bordering the brain and spinal cord. Even though most symptoms include neck pain and stiffness as well as a headache, these are quite hard to notice among infants.