Staph Infection Questions

[marlasmom]

One of the kids I do volunteer work for has a staph infection on her arm. Her relatives tell me she has staph infections frequently.

What causes this? Is it because she lives in a very dirty environment - which I suspect it is? Thanks very much.

 

[Puffy2]

All I know is that it can be very serious. There is a resistant strain going around that is effecting people who play sports (they fall in the dirt, get hurt, etc...) Staff is nothing to take lightly, needs immediate attention by a physician.

 

[marlasmom]

Thanks. Is it contagious. This is a 20-month old child. Never gets to play outside.

 

[Black Diamond]

I had a horrible staph infection this past summer, and I assure you I am not living in a dirty environment.!!! My Dr suspected that I contracted it from the ER, as I was seen there for something else. I also had staph after the birth of my son, again the hospital was a factor. I was told that once you have the infection it is easy to get again and in my case that rang true as I have had it 3 times.

Poor baby, my thoughts are there.

 

[marlasmom]

Thanks. I googled it and found that basically anytime you have even a slight opening in your skin, the staph germs can enter. It is contagious and can get very serious. My nurse daughter tells me that hospital "caused" staph infections are very common and very hard to get rid of.

Maybe I am overreacting with this child. But otoh she very rarely gets a bath and yesterday we found her sleeping on the filthy carpet with no sheet or blanket and dressed only in a diaper.

My prayer would be that all the people who would do anything to have a child and can't for medical reasons would have as many as they want and parents like those of this child couldn't have any.

 

[kilee]

They are different types of staph infections- also meaning different levels of contagiousness.