My son has impetigo?

Is there anything to prevent the breakouts, and how exactly does someone get impetigo?

Impetigo is a highly contagious gram-positive bacterial infection of the superficial layers of the epidermis. The 2 forms of the disease are bullous impetigo and nonbullous impetigo. Impetigo is caused by Staphylococcus aureus and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS). GABHS is also known as Streptococcus pyogenes.

It first appears as a small scratch or itchy patch of eczema - skin inflammation - on seemingly healthy skin. A small red, itchy spot quickly develops into a blister containing a yellow substance.

Later, the top of the blister becomes crusty and weeps while new blisters develop in the same place or on other parts of the body. Impetigo usually begins on the face, especially around the corners of the mouth, the nose and back of the ears.

The treatment involves washing with soap and water and letting the impetigo dry in the air.

Many GPs choose to treat impetigo with bactericidal ointment, su mupirocin (Bactroban), but in more severe cases oral antibiotics, such as flucloxacillin (eg Floxapen) is recommended

It is important to dissolve the scabs with ointment because the bacteria that cause the disease live underneath them.

tetracyclines, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim), clindamycin, or linezolid are also effective oral antibiotics.

Gentle debridement of lesional crusts using antibacterial soap and a washcloth is also recommended. Good hygiene with antibacterial washes, such as chlorhexidine, may prevent the spread of impetigo and prevent recurrences

Hot humid weather, participation in contact sports, crowded living conditions, poor personal hygiene, or an unhygienic work environment encourages contamination of the skin by pathogenic bacteria that can cause impetigo.

Please see the webpages for more details on Impetigo.
Impetigo- An inflammatory, pustular, skin disease. Impetigo contagiosa, a highly contagious form of impetigo, commonest on face and scalp, characerized by bullae which become pustules and then honey-coloured crusts.
Ecthyma- A crusted eruption of impetigo contagiosa on legs, producing necrosis of the skin, which heals with scarring. A similar condition occurs in syphilis.

You must get him medicine---usually it is an oral medicine plus an ointment to put on the skin.
You MUST keep him away from people, as impetigo is very infectious.

My brother used to get this all the time on his nose growing up...

Impetigo
A contagious bacterial infection of the skin marked by small fluid filled blisters which break and form yellow or "honey-colored" crusts; usually caused by staphylococci or streptococci.


HOW DO I PREVENT IMPETIGO FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?
Prevent chapped lips. If your child is prone to dry, cracked lips, then routinely apply Vaseline lip therapy or Lansinoh to the lips (a Lanolin ointment is available in the diaper cream section of your local drug store).
Treat sore noses during a cold. Apply Vaseline or Lansinoh to the irritated, cracked skin around the nose during a cold.
Heal irritated patches around the mouth. If your child gets raw, irritated patches around the mouth, apply Vaseline or Lansinoh to heal it.