Have you developed boils on your skin or maybe a skin infection that’s especially painful or irritating?
This could be a sign that you have a staph infection.
Below we look at the signs of staph infection as well as its causes and prevention.
6 Signs of Staph Infection
1. Skin Infections including:
- Boils
- Pustules
- Cellulitis
- Impetigo (a painful, contagious rash)
- Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (blisters, rash and fever)
2. Food poisoning
3. Sepsis
4. Toxic Shock Syndrome
5. Septic Arthritis (joint swelling coupled with severe pain in the joint and a fever)
6. Blood poisoning (results in fever and low blood pressure)
Up next, 5 causes of staph infection.
5 Causes of Staph Infection
Staph infection is caused by Staphylococcus bacteria.
Up to 30% of the population carries this bacteria but even those that do usually don’t develop staph infections.
Infections typically develop when there is a break in the skin. There are also risk factors that make people more likely to develop a staph infection including:
- Existing health conditions (including diabetes, cancer, cystic fibrosis, eczema and weakened immune systems)
- Playing contact sports
- Eating or preparing food in unsanitary conditions
- Hospitalization
- Using “Invasive” devices like catheters, feeding or breathing tubes, and dialysis tubing
Up next, 5 ways to preventing staph infections.
5 Ways of Preventing Staph Infections
There are some things you can do to prevent a staph infection including:
- Washing your hands
- Not sharing personal items (ie. towels, razors, athletic equipment and clothes)
- Clean broken skin wounds using antibiotic ointment and keep them covered
- Changing tampons frequently
- Wash clothes and bedding using hot water
If you are experiencing any of the signs of staph infection above, it’s best to consult with a medical professional to get a proper medical diagnosis and treatment if appropriate.
