Children
And MRSA
Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus also known as MRSA, is a common bacteria found in the
nose, throat or skin. MRSA is a concern
today because it can be harder to treat than other infections and it's
infecting healthy people, including children -- not just those with weakened
immune system, as in the past. This type of MRSA is called community-associated
MRSA (CA-MRSA). That's because it affects people in the community, outside of
hospitals and nursing homes. And, with more people infected with
community-associated MRSA, more children with MRSA have been admitted to
hospitals.
Who's most at risk of getting MRSA?
Children who come into close contact
with other people in places like:
·
day care centers
·
playgrounds
·
locker rooms
·
classrooms and other school settings
·
Gymnasiums
·
workout facilities
In these kinds of settings, MRSA is more likely because kids
have skin-to-skin contact and may share equipment or toys that have not been
cleaned. Children are also more likely to have frequent scrapes or bug bites --
potential entryways for infection.
It can be severe or deadly for those with compromised immune
systems, like young children and babies, and it is resistant to many
antibiotics currently used to treat bacteria. Signs of MRSA in infants include
fever and a boil, wound, or skin infection that does not heal with normal
treatment. MRSA can compromise nearly every system of the body, and an infant
infected with the MRSA bacteria can present a multitude of symptoms common with
any bacterial illness. General pain and lethargy, coughing, and difficulty
breathing.
The first sign of MRSA in infants is often a pimple-like
sore that resembles an insect bite and includes drainage or pus. Redness, pain,
or tenderness often accompanies the sore or sores, and a fever might also be
noted. Impetigo, a common skin disease in infants, can also be caused by the
MRSA bacteria. The signs of impetigo include fluid filled blisters that most
commonly present on the diaper area, buttocks, and face. When an infant or
child possesses a skin infection, rash, or blemish that does not respond to
treatment, the child's caregiver should consult a physician.
Although MRSA is an alarming prospect, the steps to prevent it are simple and affordable. Here are tips on how you and your children can protect yourselves:
Wash hands often. Teaching your children to wash their hands, and washing your own hands with soap and water will help stop all kinds of infections, including MRSA, from spreading. When soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer especially when handling a new born baby.
Use bandages when needed. Keep sores and cuts covered and
clean until they heal.
·
Don't touch sores. Teach children not to touch
or play with sores and scabs—theirs or other children's. Also, don't let
children scratch their skin so much that they create tiny breaks in it; use an
anti-itch cream on some areas if necessary. This is particularly important if
they get chickenpox or another itchy disease.
·
Don't share personal items. Teach children not
to share personal items such as towels, just as adults shouldn't share razors
or other skin care items.
·
Be careful around hospitalized individuals. When
visiting loved ones in the hospital or a residential care facility, practice
good personal hygiene and avoid touching catheters, ports, and IVs where they
enter the skin. Wash your hands with soap after you leave the room. Teach
children to do the same.
·
Teach prevention tips for athletes. Student
athletes may need to take additional steps to prevent infection, including:
·
Shower immediately after competition or
practice, especially after contact sports. Always shower before getting into a
whirlpool with other athletes.
·
Keep equipment and supplies clean, and wash
uniforms after each use.
·
Make sure sanitizing products are available for
cleaning mats and other shared sports equipment. Check with coaches and other adults
to be sure that these are used.
·
Don't compete in contact sports if you have a
wound that is open or bleeding. Keep all cuts and scrapes covered
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