What Does Staph Infection Look Like?: A Mother's Worry
Q: My son has a really bad rash on his bottom and it's really making him uncomfortable. My nurse friend who came over last night said it is a staph infection. What does staph infection look like? Does it only come as a rash, or should I look out for other symptoms? I'm not really sure how to go about this, so it will be really helpful if you add in some tips too. Thanks.
A: Staph infections have the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus as culprits. These bacteria invade broken or punctured skin – much like a severe diaper rash – which causes the skin to get damaged even more. But staph are not always hostile. Without the risk factors – like wounds or a weak immune system – they live harmlessly on the skin. In other words, they “colonize” it. Some healthy people have them on their skin but do not develop the symptoms of staph skin infection.
Most infections start with a rash. What does staph infection look like as a rash? Staph infection rash looks really red and a bit raw. Sometimes they can be very itchy, and scratching will only cause it to spread to other parts of the body. Watch out for blisters on the infected area too. Usually, small bumps appear on the affected area. These bumps are filled with pus which must be immediately drained out for full healing.
In your son's case, he may just be starting to develop the symptoms of staph skin infection on his bottom, although staph can infect other parts of the body too, like the face, arms, legs and the genital area. Most also show signs of swelling and a little burning sensation. You mentioned that your son is in pain – this usually accompanies most staph infections. Does your child have a fever? Some patients with staph infection rash, especially young kids, develop a slight fever. When you find most of the symptoms of staph infection present in your child, cure should immediately be applied to prevent the infection from getting worse - which can lead to death.
Despite how scary media portray these “monster bacteria,” staph infections are rarely killers. Those cases of deaths are usually due to a wrong diagnosis. This can be possible since most symptoms of staph skin infection can also appear with other minor skin irritations. Applying topical antibacterial creams or taking antibiotics does not necessarily kill them. Some bacteria have developed immunity from these medications. So while you thought that you were killing them, they were continuing to attack and gradually claiming your life.
No need to panic though, keeping these infections away is actually easy. Cleanliness and proper hygiene are the best prevention. Make sure to always keep your baby clean. Wash his staph infection rash with antibacterial soap and apply ointment. Change his diapers often since sitting in wet nappies causes bacteria to breed. Keep your bathroom disinfected to free it of staph bacteria that may have contaminated the surfaces.
I hope I have provided you with all the information you need for your question, “What does a staph infection look like?”. Staph infections can really cause a scare, but with the right habits in protecting your child, your baby may just be forever cradled in a mantle of protection against these bacteria.