Skin infections in children

Early signs

• Tender red bump or pimple with red skin around it.

• Caused by a build-up of pus under the skin.

• Can have white or yellow pus in the centre.

• Might be itchy or a bit painful.

• A large boil is called an abscess (you say, ab-ses).
  
  

  

What to do

• Go to the doctor immediately if a boil is near your child’s eye.

• Check and clean boils every day.

• Soak the boil in warm water for 20 minutes or cover with a towel soaked in warm water.

• If a boil bursts, wipe away pus and blood with a tissue.

• Wash and dry hands before and after touching the boil.

If it gets worse

Go to the doctor if any of these things happen:

• the boil gets larger or more painful

• more boils appear

• the boil lasts more than 1 week

• red streaks start to appear on the skin around the boil

• your child gets boils often

• your child seems unwell or has a fever.

How is it spread?

Pus or blood from a boil getting on to the skin can cause more boils.

Time off from kura or school?

While your child is feeling unwell. If your child is feeling well they can go to school or kura but keep boils covered with plasters or dressing.

Learn more about boils.

Early signs

• Skin will look red and feel warm and painful to touch.

• There may be pus or fluid leaking from the skin.

• Any broken or bruised skin can get infected with cellulitis.

  
  

What to do

• Go to the doctor if the skin is painful, redness and swelling is bigger than a 10 cent piece or near the eye, or there are red lines in your skin spreading out from the centre of the infection. 

• Check and clean every day.

• Wash the red skin with warm water, or soak in a bath.

• Cover with a clean cloth or plaster if leaking.

• Give your child paracetamol if they are in pain.

• Wash and dry hands before and after touching the infected area.

If it gets worse

Go back to the doctor if any of these things happen:

• infected area gets larger or deeper

• your child seems more unwell or has a fever.

This is urgent as the infection may travel to your child’s blood. Your child may need blood tests and antibiotics.

How is it spread?

Pus, blood or other fluid from the infection gets on to broken skin.

Time off from kura or school?

For at least 1 day after treatment has started. Or ask your doctor or public health nurse.

Learn more about cellulitis.

Early signs

• Broken skin with some blood.

  
  

What to do

• Clean and check the broken skin daily.

• Wash with warm water.

• Cover with a plaster or bandage. Try to use things that won’t stick to the wound.

• Most cuts, scratches and grazes will heal by themselves after a few days. Antiseptics and antibiotics are not usually needed.

• Go to the doctor if it is a deep cut or it won’t stop bleeding.

• Your child may need stitches.

If it gets worse

Go to the doctor if any of these things happen:

• the cut, scratch or graze is near the eye

• the broken skin becomes redder, swollen or painful

• there is pus around the broken skin

• red lines spread out from the broken skin

• your child feels unwell or has a fever

This may be cellulitis and the infection may travel to your child’s blood. Your child may need blood tests and antibiotics.

How is it spread?

Infection is spread if pus, blood or other fluid gets on to broken skin.

Time off from kura or school?

If infected, at least 1 day after treatment has started. Or ask your doctor or public health nurse.

Learn more about cuts and grazes.

Early signs

• Dry, inflamed, itchy, red, cracked and rough patches of skin.

• Commonly found behind your knees and on your arms, hands, neck and face.
  

  
  

What to do

• Keep the eczema clean.

• Use soap-free cleansers instead of soap.

• Moisturise if the skin is dry. This may be many times a day. Use an emollient cream such as fatty cream or non-ionic cream.

• Keep your child’s nails short and clean. Try to stop them scratching the eczema.

• See a doctor for medicated creams if your child is waking at night or missing school because of eczema.

If it gets worse

Go to the doctor if any of these things happen:

• areas of skin start swelling and become more painful

• rash becomes weepy, red or blistered.

This means the eczema has become infected. It could be cellulitis.

Do not do anything to dry out the skin as this will make the eczema worse.

How is it spread?

Eczema is not contagious.

Time off from kura or school?

If your child feels well they can go to school or kura.

Learn more about eczema.

Early signs

• Blisters on exposed parts of body, such as hands, legs and face.

• Blisters burst and turn into a sore with a yellow crust which gets bigger each day.

• The sores are itchy.

• Very contagious.

What to do

• Go to the doctor for antibiotic tablets or a cream.

• Check and wash sores every day.

• Use the cream as told by your doctor or nurse.

• Cover sores with a clean cloth or plaster.

• Keep your child’s nails short and clean. Try to stop them scratching the sores.

• Wash and dry hands before and after touching the sores.

If it gets worse

Go to the doctor if any of these things happen:

• sores are near the eye 

• sores last more than 1–2 weeks

• sores become red, swollen and have pus

• your child has a fever.

This is urgent, the infection may travel to your child’s blood. Your child may need blood tests and antibiotics.

How is it spread?

Pus, blood or other fluid from the sores touching other skin. It is very easy to catch and spread.

Time off from kura or school?

For at least 1 day after treatment has started. Ask your doctor or public health nurse.

Learn more about impetigo (school sores).

Early signs

• Red bump.

• There may be a blister in the middle.

• Very itchy.

• Sometimes painful (especially spider bites).

What to do

• Check and clean bites every day.

• Wash the bite with cool water.

• Stop scratching.

• Keep your child’s nails short and clean.

• Try to stop them scratching the bites.

• Use something to stop the itching such as ice, calamine lotion or aloe vera.

If it gets worse

Go to the doctor if any of these things happen:

• the bumps last more than 2 weeks

• the red, swollen area keeps getting bigger or more painful

• there is pus.

The swelling could be poison from the insect or a serious skin infection such as cellulitis.

How is it spread?

Insects such as mosquitos, fleas or spiders.

Time off from kura or school?

If your child feels well they can go to school or kura.

Learn more about insect bites.

Early signs

• Flat, ring-shaped rash around normal-looking skin.

• Caused by a fungus, not a worm.

What to do

• See your doctor if the ringworm is on your child’s scalp. This may cause painful red patches and hair loss.

• Your doctor, public health nurse or pharmacist can suggest a cream to use to kill the infection.

• Check and clean skin every day.

If it gets worse

Go to the doctor if any of these things happen:

• the ringworm is on the scalp

• infected area lasts more than 2 weeks

• skin becomes red, swollen and has pus

• your child has a fever.

These are signs of serious skin infection.

How is it spread?

Ringworm spreads easily through contact with infected skin, clothes or personal items, and floors and showers.

Time off from kura or school?

Until the infection is gone don’t let your child do things where their skin could touch other children.

Learn more about ringworm.

Early signs

Itchy rash in places such as: 

• the forearm

• around waist

• between fingers

• between buttocks

• under armpits.

What to do

• Go to the doctor or public health nurse to get cream for everyone in the house.

• Scabies is very contagious so everyone in the house needs to be treated even if you can’t see any rash.

• Apply cream to everyone, head to toe – including soles of feet. Don’t put cream on or near eyes.

• Wash all sheets, towels and clothing in hot water.

If it gets worse

Go to the doctor if any of these things happen:

• rash becomes infected

• the skin is red, painful, warm, swollen or has pus.

This is a serious skin infection.

Remember, everyone in the house must be treated for scabies.

How is it spread?

Skin contact with a person with scabies. Sharing sheets, towels and clothes.

Time off from kura or school?

For at least 1 day after treatment has started.

Learn more about scabies.

Early signs

• Redness and/or itching.

• Burning or stinging.

• A rash that may form blisters or pustules.

• Raw, inflamed or scaly skin.

• Common on feet (athlete's foot) and groin (jock itch).

What to do

• Use an antifungal cream, lotion, gel or spray from the pharmacy or as prescribed by your doctor. 

• Keep your skin as clean and dry and possible.

• Wear loose-fitting clothes and underwear that ‘breathes’.

• Shower or bathe daily, dry thoroughly between your toes and skin folds, and use a hairdryer if necessary.

• Wash the shower and bath using a bleach-based product every couple of days.

• Wash socks, towels, bathmats and underwear in very hot water (over 60ºC) and dry them well.

• Do not share towels, clothing or shoes.

If it gets worse

See your doctor if:

• the infection becomes severe, long-lasting

• non-prescription treatments from the pharmacy have not worked

• the skin is swollen, blistered, crusted or smells unpleasant. 

Not all skin and nail changes that look like tinea are in fact tinea, so it is important to have them checked if they do not clear up quickly. 

How is it spread?

Fungal infections spread easily through contact with infected skin, clothes or personal items. Also from floors and showers

Time off from kura or school?

Until the infection is gone don’t let your child do things where their skin could touch other children.

Learn more about fungal skin infections.