We gots the staph September 29, 2008
Twice in the past three years, E. has developed a sore that turned into a yukky staph infection. The last time was three weeks ago, when a pimple-looking bump on his knee became painful and swollen. It turned out to be MRSA.
Now my 6-year-old nephew, who plays with E. several times each week, has developed a pimple-looking sore on his lip which turns out to be, you guessed it, a staph infection.
E.’s most recent bout cleared right up with antibiotics, and I am sure my nephew’s will as well, but it’s a little scary. I mean, in both boys’ cases, the infection didn’t begin with an open sore that became exposed, but rather began in or under the skin, actually causing the sore.
I think I am going to do some serious household disinfecting this week while E. is at his Dad’s…
Well, don’t do it with antibacterials. That’ll just make things worse.
I really don’t think it has to do with having a clean house. But I completely understand wanting to clean!My sister in law has two sons (2 yr old and 6 yr old) and they both have gotten what you describe.I wonder if it has to do with the dirt that boys are exposed to when they play.
Are either of the boys MRSA or staph A carriers? That would be good info to have. There are some hygiene issues if they are. One of my sons had a life threatening staph A infection two years ago, so I would recommend that you educate yourself about other manifestations of staph infections.
That’s DEFINITELY a question we need to explore further with E’s pediatrician.
Katie,
General Staph aureus, is everywhere, all the time. But, when you get an antibiotic resistant strain of anything, it becomes a while different ballgame.
I agree with asking your pediatrician if either of the boys are carriers. Also, consider washing the towels and bed linens and add in clorox and let them soak for a bit before you finsh laundering them. At least this would be a start…
I know E. does a lot of sports and it’d be really easy for him to be exposed to something from shared towels, equipment and the sort.
Get this outbreak cleared up and then start with a good talk with your pdiatrician. If they aren’t too up on it, find an infectious diseases doctor or contact the CDC to get more information about things you can do to keep things under control. (I’d ask Daddy for you but he’s out of the country for a while.)
May I ask what medication they have the boys on? I’m concerned about the use of certain overuse of specific antibiotics. You always want to use the least amount of whatever can take the bug out…you don’t ever want to build up a resistance to an antibiotic in the needs that you really need it to fight off something later.
(Sorry, but my eight + years as a microbiologist/virologist are showing and I’m just concerned for the boys and the rest of the family.)
I was going to say the same thing Georgia did: that one of the biggest spreading grounds is boys playing sports. Sharing towels, equipment, even sitting on benches in locker rooms. It also can spread on fitness equipment when an infected person uses the machine, leaves sweat and microbes on it and then someone else uses it after them. The key of course is not sharing any of those things and wiping down things like benches or fitness equipment before you sit or lay on it. And doing your laundry a lot.