Impetigo =(

[cassiesmom]

Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the skin. It can be very contagious. The sores are similar to chickenpox - initially weepy and then crust over, and extremely itchy. My mom has a friend who got it during cancer treatment because her immune response was down.

[Callie]

I lived on a farm and impetigo came in with a batch of new chicks we had ordered (or so it seemed). Several handlers, including me, got it. We treated the sores with ammoniated mercury 5% and they healed fairly quickly.

We were told that it is commonly in the environment and most exposures do not result in skin rashes unless there is a scratch or open sore or wound somewhere. So, it may or may not be from a specific animal. Nonetheless, I'd isolate the suspected animal for a couple of weeks and see if any lesions or hair loss (what it often does to animals who get it as the first symptom) occurs so you can avoid spreading it if the animal is the source.

We were told not to cover or bandage the sores as the air helps it dry and heal and definitely do not scratch as it will start new sores and spread it. Wash hands and scrub under nails after applying ointment with good hot soapy water and dry thoroughly to decrease problems.

Hope this helps.

Callie

[lizbud]

Do you wash your hands after playing with your new pet rat? I have
never had it but I remember my mom talking about how contagious the
disease is.

[Muddy4paws]

Thanks everyone.

Ive isolated him because hes picking on my older rat and is due to be castrated so I will get the vet to answer about if it was him or not.

I do wash my hands after I touch him too, Im trying to avoid touching them too much atm anyway, I free range them so they can explore on their own.

It is soo itchy. I've noticed that its gone down slightly from yesterday. Sadly I've been taking photos to see if it does go down.

just read the leaflet inside the ointment box and it says I can apply the cream 4 times and on the box it says 3. I think I will apply 4 tonight I feel like my skin in bubbling from underneath

Sorry to moan on, I cant talk to many other people without being told I'm diseased.. Mature friends!

[Sirrahsim]

If the cream was a prescription you should only use it the number of times your doc tells you to. They take things like your body size and the severity of the lesions into account when they decide how much to prescribe I hope that it gets better soon!

[columbine]

If the itching is driving you crazy in between applications of medicine, you can get 91% isopropyl alcohol (it's right next to the 75% in the drugstore) and soak a gauze pad with it, then put it on the lesion for 3 minutes. It gets the nerve endings "drunk" and knocks out the itch. Works for mosquito bites too!

Love, Columbine

[Catty1]

columbine is right about the alcohol...also try a paste of baking soda and water on the sore, and let it dry. That really helps itches too.

Baking soda in bath water may help too.

HUGS - I hope you are better soon!