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Altabax Ointment Uses

Altabax (retapamulin), is an antibacterial ointment used to treat the highly contagious bacterial skin infection impetigo. Impetigo is usually not a serious condition; it resolves quickly with treatment in most cases. Occasionally, however, it can become serious and cause an infection in the tissue under the skin. It can also lead to inflammation of the kidneys. Altabax is used to treat two types of impetigo.

  1. Impetigo

    • Impetigo is most common in children, but adults can also get impetigo. The bacteria usually enter through an insect bite, scrape, or cut. Typically, red sores appear on the face around the mouth and nose. The sores blister. When ruptured, they ooze fluid or pus. A crust then forms around the sore. In young children, blisters may appear on the body. Another type of impetigo forms sores on the legs and feet that can leave scars. Some forms of impetigo are itchy; some are painful. Impetigo can be spread through direct contact with an infected person's sores, or by coming in contact with clothing or other items used by the person.

    How to Use Altabax

    • Altabax is intended for patients over nine months of age. Altabax is not effective for all forms of impetigo. It is intended for use specifically to treat infections caused by Staphlococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Altabax will not be effective if used for other forms of the impetigo infection and can cause the patient to develop a super infection or antibiotic resistance. Altabax is intended for use on the outside of the body only and is not to be taken orally. It is not to be used in the nose or eyes or in the vaginal or rectal areas. It has not been determined if Altabax is safe for use during breast-feeding. Wear gloves when applying the Altabax ointment and use the ointment for the prescribed length of time. If necessary, bandage the infected area to prevent bacteria from spreading to other areas.

    Side-effects of Altabax

    • Side-effects experienced by adults using Altabax are headache, skin irritation at the application site, nausea, diarrhea and sore nasal passages and throat. Children using Altabax can experience generalized itching and itching at the application site, diarrhea, sore nasal passages and throat, headache, fever and eczema. If you experience a severe reaction or severe irritation at the application site, the ointment should be wiped off immediately and discontinued. Your doctor can prescribe an alternative treatment.

    Call Your Doctor

    • When using Altabax, the skin should show improvement within three to four days. If there is no improvement, if the skin becomes irritated, or if the condition appears to be worsening, contact your doctor immediately. Altabax is available in dosages of 10 mg retapamulin/1g of ointment. It is available in five, ten and fifteen gram tubes.

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