One Southern Tier school district is dealing with an impetigo outbreak.

Horseheads school officials say several high school students have come down with the common and highly contagious skin infection, which is usually caused by strep or staph bacteria, that mainly impacts infants and children.

The superintendent says all infected students are being treated and they have not seen cases in other schools.

But how can you tell if your child has it?

  • Impetigo usually appears as red sores on the face, mouth, hands and feet – in some forms, the sores can even appear on a child’s buttocks
  • The sores ooze, burst and form honey-colored crusts
  • If your child has a sore touches it and it quickly spreads to other areas of the body
  • If painful deep puss or fluid-filled ulcers appear, the form of impetigo is more serious

And what causes the skin infection?

Exposure to the infection – that means when you come in contact with the bacteria that cause impetigo. It can be spread via clothing, towels, toys, skin-to-skin contact, etc.

Are there certain risk factors?

  • Children are at a greater risk of catching it
  • It spreads easily in crowded spaces – like schools and daycares
  • Even warm, humid weather helps the infection spread – it’s more common in the summer months
  • Participation in school sports puts kids at a greater risk of contracting the illness
  • Impetigo can enter body through any form of broken skin
  • And people with weakened immune systems or diabetics can develop some of the more serious forms

Ways to help prevent the infection:

  • Frequent hand washing
  • Sharing is NOT always caring – toys can carry the bacteria
  • Cutting a child’s nails will help prevent scratching, i.e. another way to spread the illness
  • Keep your child home until after he/she has been treated by a doctor for 24-48 hours
  • If an ointment is prescribed – wear gloves when applying it
  • Wash everything that an infected person came in contact with – that includes toothbrushes and brushes

School officials do want parents to make sure their children wash their hands thoroughly and to not share personal items.

The Mayo Clinic website was a contributing factor when writing this article.