Impetigo
ImpetigoArticle Sections
DefinitionImpetigo (im-puh-TIE-go) is a highly contagious skin infection that mainly affects infants and children. Impetigo usually appears as red sores on the face, especially around a child's nose and mouth. Although it commonly occurs when bacteria enter the skin through cuts or insect bites, it can also develop in skin that's perfectly healthy. Impetigo is seldom serious, and usually clears on its own in two to three weeks. But because impetigo can sometimes lead to complications, your child's doctor may choose to treat impetigo with an antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics. Your child can usually return to school or a child care setting as soon as he or she isn't contagious — often within 24 hours of starting antibiotic therapy. Impetigo contagiosaImpetigo starts as a red sore that ruptures, oozes for a few days and then forms a honey-colored crust. Sores mainly occur around the nose and mouth in infants and children. ...  Bullous impetigoBullous impetigo causes fluid-filled blisters — often on the trunk, arms and legs of infants and children younger than 2 years. The skin around the blister is usually red and itchy but not sore....  EcthymaEcthyma is characterized by painful fluid- or pus-filled sores that turn into deep ulcers, usually on the legs and feet. Scars usually remain after the sores heal. ...  SymptomsThe following are signs and symptoms of impetigo:
Types of impetigo
When to see a doctor Impetigo contagiosaImpetigo starts as a red sore that ruptures, oozes for a few days and then forms a honey-colored crust. Sores mainly occur around the nose and mouth in infants and children. ... Bullous impetigoBullous impetigo causes fluid-filled blisters — often on the trunk, arms and legs of infants and children younger than 2 years. The skin around the blister is usually red and itchy but not sore.... EcthymaEcthyma is characterized by painful fluid- or pus-filled sores that turn into deep ulcers, usually on the legs and feet. Scars usually remain after the sores heal. ... CausesTwo types of bacteria cause impetigo — Staphylococcus aureus (staph), which is most common, and Streptococcus pyogenes (strep). Both types of bacteria can live harmlessly on your skin until they enter through a cut or other wound and cause an infection. In adults, impetigo is usually the result of injury to the skin — often by another dermatological condition such as dermatitis. Children are commonly infected through a cut, scrape or insect bite, but they can also develop impetigo without having any notable damage to the skin. You're exposed to the bacteria that cause impetigo when you come into contact with the sores of someone who's infected or with items they've touched, such as clothing, bed linen, towels and even toys. Once you're infected, you can easily spread the infection to others. Staph bacteria produce a toxin that causes impetigo to spread to nearby skin. The toxin attacks a protein that helps bind skin cells together. Once this protein is damaged, bacteria can spread quickly. Risk factorsAlthough anyone can develop impetigo, children ages 2 to 6 years and infants are most often infected. Children are especially susceptible to infections because their immune systems are still developing. And because staph and strep bacteria flourish wherever groups of people are in close contact, impetigo spreads easily in schools and child care settings. Factors that increase the risk of impetigo include:
Older adults and people with diabetes or a compromised immune system are especially likely to develop ecthyma, a deeper and more serious form of impetigo. ComplicationsImpetigo typically isn't dangerous, but sometimes it may lead to rare but serious complications, including:
Other complications include:
Preparing for your appointmentYour family doctor or your child's pediatrician can diagnosis impetigo. When you call to make your appointment, ask if you should follow any restrictions to prevent infecting others in the waiting room. Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot to discuss, it can help to be well prepared. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
What to expect from your doctor
Tests and diagnosisDoctors usually diagnose impetigo by considering signs and symptoms and medical history and looking at the distinctive sores. Your doctor will likely ask about any recent cuts, scrapes or insect bites to the affected area. A culture may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis or to rule out another cause. During this test, your doctor uses a sterile swab to gently remove a small bit of pus or drainage from one of the sores. The sample is then cultured in a laboratory for the presence of bacteria. Treatments and drugsImpetigo treatment can speed healing of the sores, improve the skin's appearance and limit the spread of the infection. How impetigo is treated depends on several factors, including the type of impetigo and the severity of the infection. Treatments include:
Lifestyle and home remediesFor minor infections that haven't spread to other areas, try the following:
PreventionKeeping the skin clean is the best way to keep it healthy. Treat cuts, scrapes, insect bites and other wounds right away by washing the affected areas and applying antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. If someone in your family already has impetigo, follow these measures to help keep the infection from spreading to others:
RelatedLast Updated: 2010-10-05 © 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
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