Bullous Impetigo Case Series: An Updated Review

Abstract

Impetigo also known as pyoderma is a common paediatric skin infection presenting  to  clinics  and  hospitals in summer season. The illness is acquired from  close  skin  contact  with  the  victim  and  is  highly contagious. The lesions are fluid filled vesicles that leave crust after  rupture  and  usually  heal without treatment. The infection is classified as bullous and non-bullous impetigo, the latter one having the least occurrence and is most commonly associated  with  complications,  therefore  prompt  treatment is necessary.

The case series holds a brief literature  review  of  bullous  impetigo,  its  clinical  course,  treatment  op- tions and complications. The author reports two cases presenting with bullous impetigo in the month of June. A five-year old boy and fifteen months old girl; both  presenting  with  similar  rashes  involving limbs, trunk and neck with slight  differences  in  the  clinical  symptoms.  Both  were  treated  with  fluids, oral and topical antibiotics. The climatic conditions of Karachi  favours  the  incidence  of  impetigo. Also, poor sanitation and overcrowded areas have further more increased the incidence  of  the  disease.  Families are unaware of these types of skin infections and hence do not isolate the victim which, in case of highly contagious illnesses like impetigo,  is  of  great  importance.  Furthermore,  not  getting  prompt treatment is another factor that cannot be ignored  and  results  in  complications  in  case  of  bullous impetigo. The most important conclusions which can  be  drawn  from  our  case  series  are  the lack of paediatric centres that treat dermatological conditions promptly and effectively. Lack of proper guidance convinces families to switch to self-medication and sometimes neglect. The role  of  a  paediatrician is vital when creating understanding with the patient's attendant by explaining  them  the clinical features and course  of  treatment  of  bullous  impetigo  to  avoid  self-medication  while  dealing  with skin diseases in children.