4 Yough students treated for possible contagious skin infection

Four students in the Yough School District have been treated for possible impetigo since the beginning of the school year, Superintendent Janet Sardon said Tuesday.

“The Yough School District takes the health and safety of our students as a top priority,” Sardon said in a statement.

Impetigo is a common and highly contagious skin infection that mainly affects infants and children, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s spread when people come into contact with the sores of someone who’s infected or with items they’ve touched like clothing, towels and toys.

The district’s 2019-20 school year began on Aug. 26. Sardon said the district keeps all of its schools, facilities, and buses clean using antibacterial cleaners and encourages proper hygiene and hand washing.

“As with any health issue, we follow all guidelines as set forth by school policy, state regulations, and recommendations from the PA Department of Health,” Sardon said.

Impetigo usually appears as red sores on the face, especially around a child’s nose and mouth, and on hands and feet, the Mayo Clinic said.

To keep it from spreading, the Mayo Clinic encourages people to frequently wash their hands; wash any affected areas with soap and water and cover them with gauze; wash an infected person’s clothes, linens and towels every day and don’t share them with others; wear gloves when applying antibiotic ointment; cut an infected child’s nails short to prevent damage from scratching; and keep a child home until a doctor says they aren’t contagious.