9-16-05 - KXII first reported several weeks ago about a group of Denison students who came down with a form or staph infections. Now it is spreading to other schools in Grayson County.
Conditions known as staph infections are those caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Many healthy people carry staph bacteria in their noses without getting sick. But when the skin is punctured or broken, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause infections, which can lead to other health problems.
You can help prevent your child from developing a staph infection by encouraging regular hand washing, keeping your child's skin clean with a daily bath, and keeping areas that have been cut clean or covered.
How Do Staph Infections Spread?
Staph can spread through the air, on contaminated surfaces, and from person to person. A child can carry staph bacteria from one area of his or her body to another on dirty hands and under dirty fingernails. Staph can pass from person to person the same way. So hand washing is the most important way to prevent staph infections from developing.
You can also help prevent staph skin infections by keeping your child's skin clean with a daily bath or shower. If your child has a skin condition such as eczema that makes frequent bathing difficult, it's a good idea to speak with your child's doctor.
Keep areas of the skin that have been injured - cuts, scrapes, and rashes caused by allergic reactions or poison ivy - clean and covered, and use any other treatments that your doctor suggests. Also, discourage sharing of towels and personal items like clothes and equipment. Encourage athletes to report skin lesions to coaches and encourage coaches to assess athletes regularly for skin lesions.