8 Jun 2009

Alarm over rising rate of serious skin infections

2:37 pm on 8 June 2009

A Wellington paediatrician is alarmed at the number of Maori and Pacific Island children who are getting serious skin infections.

Nikki Blair says that during the past decade the number of Maori children being admitted to hospitals in the Wellington region with skin infections almost doubled, and the situation is even worse in the upper North Island.

Dr Blair says simple actions by schools and primary healthcare providers can be effective at reducing the problem.

Public health nurses could be used to educate parents and schools about cleaning and dressing children's cuts and grazes.