Skin

Cellulitis is an acute spreading infection of the skin and subcutaneous (beneath the skin) tissue affecting any area of the body.

Abscess of the skin is a soft tissue infection where pus has collected and is surrounded by inflamed tissue. Abscesses may occur as a result of cellulitis.

The cellulitis, boils,absesses and impetigo "school sores" can be caused by bacteria getting in through a hair follicle or a break in the skin. Breaks in the skin could be caused by an insect bite, headlice, scabies or from cuts, grazes, accidental falls, animal and human bites, sports injuries or eczema.

If untreated all of these can become more serious and cause blood poisoning and pus to collect inside the body in areas like the kidneys.

Prevention and treatment

Prevention of these infections starts with every day activities like showering, washing your hands regularly especially after using the toilet. Doing this reduces the amount of bacteria that you carry on your body and hands that can get into the skin and cause skin infections.

It is also good to keep your finger nails short, long nails have lots of bacteria under them and when there is a break in the skin from a bite it is easy to infect your skin.

If your child has eczema keep the skin well moisturized and the eczema as under control as possible. Speak with your family doctor, nurse or health worker.

Try to protect your child's skin from injury or bites by using appropriate protective clothing and equipment when playing sports or participating in at risk activities.

I have attached a page about preventing bites from mozzies and fleas

First Aid

Another good thing is to make sure when you do get a break in the skin you use first aid

Clean your hands with soapy water, If your child gets a scrape, wash the wound well with running water and soap.(no need to use anti septic) Cut your finger nails short Cover with a fabric plaster Check the wound daily and replace with a clean plaster.

Ongoing care of sores

To keep clean, use a clean rag and a cup of warm water with ½ a teaspoon of salt. Use the rag to soak the wound or sore and throw rag into rubbish. Dry with clean rag and throw rag into rubbish.

See a GP early if redness or swelling develops around a cut or graze or if the wound is large, deep or from a bite (animal or human).See comments below about ACC cover

If some one has a sore that has pus in it.

To keep clean, use a clean rag and a cup of warm water with ½ a teaspoon of salt. Use the rag to soak the wound or sore and throw rag into rubbish. Dry with clean rag and throw rag into rubbish.Keep it covered, especially whilst in school or work.

If it does not get better and looks worse after 2 days or the person feels unwell or has a fever go to the doctor

Make sure people ask about ACC because cuts,injuries,animal or human bites,sports injuries, insect bites that need treatment are covered by ACC. People should always ask and check with their doctor about cover.

If the person has cellulitis, boils or an infected wound preventing the spread of infection to others.

Keep the sore covered at school or work.

If the wound is not able to be covered as it is in a difficult place keep away from work or school until 24 hours after start antibiotics from the doctor.

It is necessary for the infected person to have their own towel which should be washed daily. Sharing may spread bacteria from one person to another.

Children should have their own bedding to prevent spreading the infection to other family members too. If possible washing should be done on a hot wash.

The shower/bath must also be cleaned after use by this person.

People who can help

People who can help, local family doctor, practice nurse, school nurse and community workers will be able to give advice. The community paediatric nurse Debbie Richard will be able to give specialist advice, she is based at Wellington Hopsital and also runs clinic at Kenepuru.

ACC for treatment costs, WINZ are helping to provide access to necessary items through health workers, this is a new initiative and may take some time to get straightened out.

Schools in the Porirua area taking part in the project and the following will have a skin health focus as part of the curriculum next term are Windley Primary, Brandon Intermediate and Porirua College.

The resource centre at Regional Public Health have information about skin infections that can be ordered through the health information centre 04 570 9061.

__________________________________

Clare Aspinall

Project Coordinator

Social Environments Advisor

Regional Public Health

Private Bag 31-907

Lower Hutt

New Zealand

ddi: +64 4 570 9311

reception: +64 4 570 9002 or 566 6999

internal ext: 9311

clare.aspinall@huttvalleydhb.org.nz