For a child diagnosed with impetigo, what is an important hygiene measure to teach their guardian?

Teaching guardians of a child diagnosed with impetigo to keep the child's nails short and clean is crucial for preventing the spread of the infection. Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection typically caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus. Children often scratch at the lesions, and longer nails can harbor bacteria and increase the likelihood of secondary infections or spreading the infection to other areas of the body or to other individuals.

By keeping nails short and clean, guardians can minimize the risk of the child scratching and transferring the bacteria. Additionally, maintaining good nail hygiene helps ensure that any bacteria present are less likely to accumulate under longer nails.

Promoting proper hygiene practices such as handwashing and avoiding the sharing of personal items is also key in managing impetigo, but keeping nails short specifically addresses a direct mechanism of potential spread and contamination.