Impetigo Education for Parents

• Impetigo is a highly contagious superficial skin infection most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes
• It typically presents with vesicles, pustules, and characteristic honey-colored crusts
• Impetigo is more common in children, particularly in warm, humid conditions, and spreads through direct contact

Question 1

• A nurse is providing education to the parents of a child diagnosed with impetigo
• Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
• Keep the child's fingernails short and clean
• Apply topical antibiotics after washing the affected areas
• Avoid sharing towels and personal items
• All of the above
• Correct Answer: All of the above
• Explanation:
• Keeping fingernails short and clean helps prevent further spread of the infection from scratching
• Topical antibiotics are effective after washing the affected areas to remove crusts
• Avoiding sharing towels and personal items prevents transmission to others

Question 2

• A 3-year-old child presents with honey-colored crusted lesions around the nose and mouth
• The nurse suspects impetigo
• Which assessment finding would further support this diagnosis?
• Generalized body rash
• Intense itching at the lesion sites
• Recent history of a viral upper respiratory infection
• Complaints of joint pain
• Correct Answer: Recent history of a viral upper respiratory infection
• Explanation:
• Impetigo often occurs following a break in the skin, such as from a cold or insect bite, which introduces bacteria

Question 3

• A child with impetigo is being treated with topical mupirocin
• The nurse evaluates the effectiveness of the treatment
• Which of the following indicates that the treatment is effective?
• The child reports increased itching
• No new lesions have appeared in the past 48 hours
• The honey-colored crusts have become larger
• The child has developed a fever
• Correct Answer: No new lesions have appeared in the past 48 hours
• Explanation:
• Effective treatment results in the cessation of new lesion formation

Question 4

• A nurse is caring for a child with bullous impetigo
• What is a characteristic finding specific to bullous impetigo that the nurse should observe?
• Presence of small, fluid-filled blisters that rupture easily
• Deep ulcers with purulent drainage
• Erythematous, sandpaper-like rash
• Large, fragile bullae filled with clear or yellow fluid
• Correct Answer: Large, fragile bullae filled with clear or yellow fluid
• Explanation:
• Bullous impetigo is characterized by large, fluid-filled blisters (bullae) rather than small pustules or vesicles

Question 5

• Parents of a child with impetigo ask the nurse when their child can return to school
• Which of the following is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
• "Your child can return to school immediately as long as they cover the lesions."
• "Your child can return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment."
• "Your child needs to stay home until all lesions are completely healed."
• "Your child can return to school once the fever is gone."
• Correct Answer: "Your child can return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment."
• Explanation:
• To prevent the spread of infection, children can usually return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment
• The lesions should be covered if possible