Laboratory culture of the discharge from the pustule. The infection may enter the child's bloodstream and spread to other body parts. Without treatment, boils or deep skin infections may develop. Treatment will shorten the course of your child's infection. Healing should be complete in 2 weeks.
Recurrence is common.
Urge your child not to scratch pustules. The germs that cause them can be transferred from under the fingernails to other parts of the body. Use warm-water soaks to relieve the child's itching and hasten healing. If there are only a few pustules on your child, use non-prescription antibiotics, such as bacitracin, mycitracin, or neomycin. Apply and gently massage a small amount into the affected areas 3 or 4 times a day.