Impetigo: A Common Childhood Skin Infection

Impetigo: A Common Bacterial Skin Infection

Impetigo is a common skin infection caused by bacteria. It is most often seen in children, but it can also affect adults. Impetigo is highly contagious and can spread easily through direct contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated objects.

Causes

Impetigo is caused by bacteria, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria can enter the skin through breaks in the skin, such as cuts, scrapes, or insect bites.

Symptoms

Impetigo typically begins with small, red bumps on the skin. The bumps quickly develop into blisters filled with clear or yellow fluid. The blisters may break open and crust over, forming a honey-colored crust.

Other symptoms of impetigo include:

• Itching
• Burning
• Pain
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes

Diagnosis

Impetigo is usually diagnosed based on the appearance of the skin lesions. Your doctor may also take a sample of the fluid from the blisters to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Impetigo is typically treated with antibiotics. The antibiotics may be taken orally or applied directly to the skin. In some cases, the blisters may need to be drained.

Prevention

There are several things you can do to help prevent impetigo:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered.
• Avoid sharing towels, clothing, or other personal items with someone who has impetigo.
• Do not touch or scratch the blisters.
• If you have impetigo, cover the blisters with a bandage to prevent them from spreading.

Complications

Impetigo is usually a mild infection, but it can lead to serious complications in some cases. These complications include:

• Cellulitis: A bacterial infection of the deeper layers of the skin.
• Lymphangitis: A bacterial infection of the lymph vessels.
• Sepsis: A life-threatening infection of the bloodstream.

Outlook

Impetigo is usually a mild infection that can be treated with antibiotics. However, it is important to seek medical attention if you have any symptoms of impetigo to prevent serious complications.

Additional Information

Impetigo is a common skin infection that is caused by bacteria. It is most often seen in children, but it can also affect adults. Impetigo is highly contagious and can spread easily through direct contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated objects. The symptoms of impetigo include small, red bumps on the skin that quickly develop into blisters filled with clear or yellow fluid. The blisters may break open and crust over, forming a honey-colored crust. Other symptoms of impetigo include itching, burning, pain, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. Impetigo is typically treated with antibiotics. The antibiotics may be taken orally or applied directly to the skin. In some cases, the blisters may need to be drained. There are several things you can do to help prevent impetigo, including washing your hands frequently with soap and water, keeping cuts and scrapes clean and covered, avoiding sharing towels, clothing, or other personal items with someone who has impetigo, and not touching or scratching the blisters. Impetigo is usually a mild infection, but it can lead to serious complications in some cases. These complications include cellulitis, lymphangitis, and sepsis. It is important to seek medical attention if you have any symptoms of impetigo to prevent serious complications.