Staphylococcus aka Staphyloccoccal Scalded Skin Syndrome or Ritter Disease
Back to Diseases or Bird Health Care
Note: The below information is mainly geared towards human staph infections, but are helpful and have relevancy for animal patients as well. Use your good judgment and discuss with your vet the treatment protocol.
What is Staphylococcus?
Staphylococcus is group of bacteria, familiarly known as Staph, that can (and do) cause a multitude of diseases. Staph bacteria can cause illness directly by infection (such as in the skin) or indirectly through products they make such as toxins responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. This disease occurs predominantly in children under 5 years of age.
What are complications of Staph infections?
Staph infection can be simple and localized, such as with impetigo of the skin. It can, however, become widespread, by infecting the blood. It can thereby seed to various areas of the body, such as the bone, kidneys, or heart. This spreading occurs more commonly in persons with abnormally suppressed immune systems.
Scalded skin syndrome is a potentially serious side effect of infection with the Staph (Staphylococcus) bacteria that produces a specific protein which loosens the "cement" holding the various layers of the skin together. This allows blister formation and sloughing of the top layer of skin. If it occurs over large body regions it can be deadly (just like a large surface area of the body having been burned). It is necessary to treat scalded skin syndrome with intravenous antibiotics and to protect the skin from allowing dehydration to occur if large areas peel off.
Alternative / Holistic Treatment Options
Natural Antibiotics / Strengthening Your Immunesystem Naturally ... General Avian Health References
NEED A VET?
USA: Find Your Local Avian Veterinarian
Information contained on this website is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with web visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the webmaster.
Photo contributions are welcome!
