For a long time the reputation of a dangerous bacterium, which causes many infectious diseases, has been fixed for staphylococcus . Yes, indeed, this bacterium is pathogenic, but it is not always the cause of disease. Staphylococcus is present everywhere: on furniture, toys, food, human skin and even in breast milk. But not all people who are carriers of this bacterium are sick, it starts to multiply only with reduced immunity. Therefore, the most dangerous is Staphylococcus aureus in infants, as it can cause even infection of blood and sepsis. Statistics show that in the maternity hospitals about 90% of the kids are already infected on the fifth day, but the symptoms of the disease do not manifest in all.
Features of Staphylococcus aureus
This bacterium belongs to the group of staphylococcal, the rest of which are completely harmless to humans. They are so called, because they have a spherical shape and are collected in clusters. A golden staphylococcus is yellow. These bacteria are very common in nature, but live mainly on the skin and mucous membranes. Infection often occurs in hospitals, maternity hospitals and other places of mass congestion. The bacterium is transmitted by contact, kisses, through objects of common use and even through breast milk. But only that child who has weakened immunity will become ill.
Which children are more prone to infection?
Most often get staphylococcus:
- premature and weakened babies born as a result of difficult births;
- children, whose mother during pregnancy suffered an infectious disease, took antibiotics, hormones or malnutrition;
- in newborns who are on artificial feeding , the infection is more often manifested, since immunity is transferred from breast to mother.
The effect of Staphylococcus aureus on the body
This bacterium has developed special mechanisms of penetration into the cell and protection from bacteriophages. It produces enzymes that dissolve tissues, so the staphylococcus moves inside the cell and destroys it. In addition, it releases a substance that promotes blood clotting. Then it penetrates into the thrombus and becomes inaccessible to the immune cells. Thus, staphylococcus can spread rapidly throughout the body, causing blood poisoning and toxic shock. This is very dangerous, therefore, every mother needs to understand in time that deviations in her child's health develop under the influence of this bacterium.
Symptoms of infection with Staphylococcus aureus in infants
- skin lesions: boils, acne, redness and swelling, navel inflammation, rash;
- conjunctivitis, thrush;
- enterocolitis, mainly manifested by a liquid greenish stool with foam, abdominal pain;
- in advanced cases, pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis and even abscesses develop.
How to determine that this is staphylococcus aureus?
It is impossible to do this on your own, you need to take tests. But even the presence of staphylococcus in the feces of the baby does not mean that he is the cause of diarrhea or rash. Perhaps a child simply has food poisoning, an allergy or lactose insufficiency. But if there are no other causes of the disease, then urgently to begin treatment of staphylococcus in the baby. It can be prescribed only by a doctor, taking into account the age of the baby and the state of health. But my mother needs to know what is working on the bacterium in order to prevent the disease in the future.
How to treat staphylococcus a breastfed?
If the bacterium is present on the skin and mucous membranes of a child, the best thing that affects it is green or chlorophyllite. If a staphylococcus is detected in the intestine, the baby should be given bacteriophages and immunity to it. Antibiotics in this case will be useless, since staphylococcus has learned to adapt to them. Another important factor is breastfeeding.
Prevention of infection
But the best treatment is still prevention. It should be borne in mind that the bacterium is very common on the earth, every third person is its carrier. Staphylococcus is very stable and is not afraid of boiling, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and table salt. To prevent bacteria from entering the baby's body, you must carefully observe hygiene, do not touch the baby with dirty hands, boil all the dishes and wash toys well. And, in addition, strengthen the child's immunity, and the best remedy for this is breast milk.