Staph infections, once a virus most often diagnosed among the elderly, has made itself much more prevalent among all ages, especially children, a Vicksburg pediatrician said.

Dr. Gordon Sluis, a pediatrician with the Vicksburg Clinic, said over the past three years he’s gone from diagnosing three to four cases of staph a year to three to four cases a month.

&#8220We’re now seeing it a lot more in school-age children, preschool age and even infants,” Sluis said.

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 if not properly treated.

Sluis said the reasons for the increase of cases are two-fold.

&#8220The main bacteria of the virus, MRSA, has mutated. It used to be usually spread through a nursing home community or any concentration of elderly people because of low immune systems,” he said.

&#8220But now the bacteria has become community-acquired, which means it can be spread to anyone of any age through a variety of ways,” Sluis said.

He said another reason why the virus is so widespread is use of antibiotics in children opens doors to other organisms.

&#8220It’s just another reason why antibiotics should only be taken when needed. When they are taken to cure symptoms that don’t exist, it simply lowers the immune system,” Sluis said.

Staph can spread through the air, on contaminated surfaces and from person to person. A person 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.

Dru Holdiness, one of five nurses with the Vicksburg Warren School District, said she has not seen any more cases of the infection than in past years.

&#8220But we don’t diagnose. If we see something suspicious, we always send notes home to parents encouraging them to seek advice from a physician,” she said.

Holdiness said staph infections can often be mistaken for other illnesses such as a spider or mosquito bite.

&#8220For us, when we see a boil or an area that has the same symptoms as a spider bite, it’s hard to assume it might be staph. Blood work really needs to be done in order for accurate diagnosis,” she said.

Staph infections can be prevented in children by encouraging regular hand washing, keeping skin clean with a daily bath and keeping areas that have been cut clean or covered.

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 suggested by the physician.

Sluis said although most infections are more bothersome than dangerous, it’s always best to see a physician for proper treatment.