OT Help/Impetigo?...

[bcbmom]

or cold sore help? Sorry to post this here but so many people seem to see this. I have a few blisters on my chin and I seem to get a tingly feeling across it when one is about to appear, it's blister like and then crusts over (I know disgusting) and it's also itchy. I was at the after hours clinic back in August and he said it was Impetigo and treated with antibiotics/cream and then it reoccured, so went back and he said he had no idea what it was...maybe cold sores...so again he treated with another antibiotic...and now it's back again!?! I'm trying to leave it because I see my family doctor on tuesday and hopefully he'll take it a little more serious and swab or something. But I'm just hoping someone can help and knows what it could be OR of any home remedies. I had to go to ds hockey last night and was so embarrassed as i'm thinking everyone thinks I have severe acne. Sorry it's so long, thanks for any help!

 

[Green Tea]

Cold sore is a virus, so antibiotics wouldn't elp. They do tend to occur at the same place, often. I don't know if multiple outbreaks occur at once though. The doctor can prescribe Valtrex to take as soon as you feel the tingling if it is cold sores. In the mean time try Abreva from the drugstore. It is a cream you just carry around and keep reapplying.

 

[kldmom2000]

Well the tingly feeling prior to an appearance is usually consistent with a cold sore which is indeed a virus as the poster above said. That would take an anti-viral Rx to clear it up...

If it's impetigo, that would be a staph infection that could lead to MRSA. My DD had impetigo last year and it was a "cold sore" looking spot next to her mouth... it then filled with a yellow pus and kept scabbing over. The pedi treated her with antibiotics and it healed up in a couple of days.

I'm glad you have an appt. with your primary care MD and keeping my fingers crossed that they solve the problem for you so you don't have to be embarrassed anymore....

 

[A Mickeyfan]

be sure to ask to be checked for MRSRA!! My DD has it!!! She has been suffering from sores that look like boils for 2 months. I even questioned MRSRA when we were at the ER (in Oct)where they had to drain one of hers and they also placed a drain in her leg so it would continue to drain for 48 more hours! They did not test for it (she had every symptom of it then too!). Her primary doc finally did the culture nearly 2 weeks ago. It came back positive . He had done blood work a month ago which came back good and did blood work again this time & that came back good! He sent her to an Infectionist Diease Specialist this past Thursday. She is on Baxtrim (can' t spell it) which is the ONLY antibiotic that will work. She also has to coat the lining of her nose with a topical ointment as well as use the antibiotic soap on her body and hair for 5 days. She goes back to the doc in 2 weeks and they will retest her again. The doc said MRSRA is more common than people realize. One can be colonized (have it and not have any symptoms) and pass it on to others & not even realize they are passing it! You can be colonized in between breakouts or you can be colonized and never break out yourself. All it takes is touching something that someone who has it (or is colonized) touched then touching an open cut. He also said females tend to get it on their legs since they shave and get nic's and cannot see the tiny opening That was where my DD's started. The doc also said that while it can be fatal, it usually only is in the very young, very old or those with a poor immune system. Hopefully my DD should be fine if all goes well. He also said her body has been fighting it since Oct judging from the leasions she has on her body.. some have left scars!
Please .. ask your doc for a test.. some do not think of it... why is beyond me. They should realize and test.. You need a culture, not just a blood test. Remember my dd had the blood test done (twice) and it was fine.. it was the culture that showed it!!!!

 

[disneymarie]

I was given Valtrex for cold sores.(think that is the one used for herpes virus)as soon as you feel the tingle take two. They are big ugly green color. Works great. There used for shingles too which is similar to the virus in cold sores.
Sometimes there is something that is a flare, like sun, cold wind, stress.
hope it clears soon,
dianne

 

[BethR]

I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV. And although I definitely think that you should see your medical professional again, I have to say that I agree with some of the others - it sounds like some kind of herpes to me. Now before you freak out, herpes is the virus that gives us cold sores and lots of other "fun" stuff. Not a real big deal. Your medical professional can find out for sure by culturing the sore that you have.

DD, who is very prone to cold sores, etc, once had a sore on the middle of her cheek. First diagnosis was impetigo. She was given an antibiotic, but it did nothing for her (of course.) She went back to the doctor and they cultured it and found out it was herpes. They prescribed Valtrex. It helped very quickly. She now keeps Valtrex on hand to use whenever she feels that "tingly" feeling.

Good Luck with this.

 

[problemchild718]

It DOES NOT sound like MRSA! I'm an ER nurse for 14 years-sounds like herpes (no not THAT kind) recurrs in the same place, probably if you get sick, stressed or overtired. Valtrex or Zovrax might help if taken early (1st 48 hours after it breaks out). If it were me, I'd go to a dermatologist during a break out so he/she could adequately access it.

 

[granmanh603]

I agree with the herpes comments. If you are going to the doctor get the Valtrex works quick and see if he will give you extra for next time great but also I also had a neice that had the same thing on her chin....she was told by the doctor to use the over the counter suppliment Lysene(sp?) you can get pill or I found ointment at Puritian pride vitiamins on line and I have used that as soon as I feel them coming and for me it works like a charm. Just a though.

 

[englishteacha]

I had impetigo as a kid. It's scaly and itchy. It's bacterial. I took an antibiotic and rinsed the area with hydrogen peroxide. The version I had was highly contagious so I was out of school for a couple of days. Once the antibiotics kicked in, the impetigo cleared up rather quickly. If what you have is recurring, it's probably a virus.

 

[m&m's mom]

I have had both and yours sounds like the herpes virus.
Another option I preach is to try Zovirax before Valtrex. Valtrex is much more expensive (Zovirax /Acylovir same thing) and it did not work for me.
My DH's nickname for me is El Virus because it seems like I get them all. I have had Shigles, Herpes (mouth kind only, thank you very much) and also Impetigo.
If I am stressed or just rerun down I take 1 pill a day prophetically and then I never get a break out.
The good news is I never get colds or flues so I cold sore a year I can live with.
Good Luck! I can sympathize.

 

[SGMCO]

My DS had a bad case of Impetigo in the late Spring and
the DR. said that Spring was the time of the year that this type of
infections usually happens. DR. said something about getting
IMP from stirring up dirt in Spring planting. Not sure how true that is
but if it is true this would be the wrong time of the year for IMP.

 

[Luvdancink]

Here we go. Let all the nurses and doctors on the board tell you that this does not sound like MRSA. We are sick of the public freaking out about MRSA. There are several drugs that cure MRSA, but what you are describing sounds more viral. The problem with viruses like that is that while there are drugs that can help with outbreaks, there typically isn't a cure, so it may come back. Good luck, and hope they get you all fixed up soon.

~Kristy

 

[MKCP5]

or cold sore help? Sorry to post this here but so many people seem to see this. I have a few blisters on my chin and I seem to get a tingly feeling across it when one is about to appear, it's blister like and then crusts over (I know disgusting) and it's also itchy. I was at the after hours clinic back in August and he said it was Impetigo and treated with antibiotics/cream and then it reoccured, so went back and he said he had no idea what it was...maybe cold sores...so again he treated with another antibiotic...and now it's back again!?! I'm trying to leave it because I see my family doctor on tuesday and hopefully he'll take it a little more serious and swab or something. But I'm just hoping someone can help and knows what it could be OR of any home remedies. I had to go to ds hockey last night and was so embarrassed as i'm thinking everyone thinks I have severe acne. Sorry it's so long, thanks for any help!

Okay the itchy thing is triggering impetigo for me. Impetigo is a staph infection, so it stays in your system forever once you have it. That being said, it is not going to kill you this week. I had a really bad case of impetigo when I was about 21 around and in my ear/neck/cheekbone. Over the years it has reoccured a few times, in roughly the same place, and with antibiotics and cream it goes away. It did leave a couple of scars which have faded to almost nothing. My DD has had it 2-3 times as well. Not in the same place, but again with meds it goes away. It is HIGHLY contagious and the sores do leak a nasty ooze. Constant handwashing and no scratching!!! Get it checked out though, and make sure you're on the right track to clearing it up and then keeping it away. Good Luck!! Feel Better!!

 

[jesseiann]

My son had impetigo a few months ago. We took him to urgent care when he had it and they gave us the antibacterial cream and told us to put it on his sores a couple of times a day and to follow up with his pediatrician. We took him to the pediatrician when we only had a couple of days of treatment left, and he told us that if it re-appeared, to put the cream not only on the sores, but also in and around his nose. He told us that's where the bacteria lived.

As a side note, I had also had what I thought was a cold sore that appeared under my nose several times just before my son got this. It would go away on it's own, and then come back a while later. I used the same cream under and around my nose, and haven't had problems since.

Jess