MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant infection caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The infection is transmitted by physical contact with an infected person or by getting the bacteria into a cut, sore, or opening. Children are often susceptible to the infection due to a high amount of casual contact with others, such as at school or in day care. Recognizing the symptoms of MRSA in children can result in faster medical treatment and less complications.
MRSA in children and adults generally presents as a type of skin infection. It may have the appearance of red bumps or pimples. The infection may appear near the entry point, such as on the borders of a cut, but may appear elsewhere on the body as well. MRSA is often misidentified as a spider or insect bite, leading to easy misdiagnosis.
Boils or pimples caused my MRSA in children can quickly develop into severely swollen abscesses. These may require draining and should be treated by a physician rather than at home. Other symptoms that may indicate MRSA include chills, fever, or breathing problems. These are often indicative of a serious infection that may be affecting the rest of the body.
Risk factors for MRSA in children include casual contact with others, low hygiene standards, crowded living quarters, and hospital visits. Since MRSA is so easily transmitted, hospitals and intensive care units are often a primary site for infections to occur. Post-operative patients are also susceptible, as their weakened immune systems may be less able to ward off the infection. Infants can contract MRSA through childbirth, which becomes dangerous not only for the infected child but all others kept in the infant ward of the hospital.
In severe cases, MRSA can move from a skin infection to the bloodstream, affecting the lungs, hearts, and bones. Since the infection is resistant to many antibiotics, treatment can be difficult and can sometimes be completely unsuccessful. Though recovery is common, some patients do die from MRSA related complications.
Although many skin infections are relatively harmless and not MRSA-based, some health care professionals suggest seeing a doctor if an abscess develops or if boils appear in conjunction with a MRSA outbreak at a child’s school, day care, or hospital. Prompt examination of the tissue can ensure fast diagnosis, allowing doctors to begin treatment at once. MRSA in children often resolves without complications, though careful observation may be required to ensure that the infection is improving and not spreading after treatment.