It is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection caused by staph or strep. It is also known as School Sores because it commonly affects school-aged children. Impetigo is more common during the warmer months. Impetigo usually appears as red sores on the face, especially around a child's nose and mouth. The sores burst and develop honey-colored crusts.
Impetigo may clear on its own in two to three weeks, but antibiotics can shorten the course of the disease and help prevent the spread to others.
Classification
1. Impetigo contagiosa
This most common form of impetigo, also called nonbullous impetigo, most often begins as a red sore near the nose or mouth which soon breaks, leaking pus or fluid, and forms a honey-colored scab, followed by a red mark which heals without leaving a scar. Sores are not painful, but may be itchy.
2. Bullous impetigo
Bullous impetigo, mainly seen in children younger than 2 years, involves painless, fluid-filled blisters, mostly on the arms, legs and trunk, surrounded by red and itchy (but not sore) skin. The blisters may be large or small. After they break, they form yellow scabs.
3. Ecthyma
In this form of impetigo, painful fluid- or pus-filled sores with redness of skin, usually on the arms and legs, become ulcers that penetrate deeper into the dermis. After they break open, they form hard, thick, gray-yellow scabs, which sometimes leave scars. Ecthyma may be accompanied by swollen lymph nodes in the affected area.
Causes
It is primarily caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and sometimes by Streptococcus pyogenes.
Tests and Diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose impetigo by looking at the distinctive sores. Usually, lab tests aren't necessary. But if the sores don't clear, even with antibiotic treatment, your doctor may take a sample of the liquid produced by a sore and test it to see what types of antibiotics might work best on it. Some types of the bacteria that cause impetigo have become resistant to certain antibiotic drugs.
Treatments and Drugs
Antibiotics are the mainstay of impetigo treatments. These drugs can be delivered by an ointment or cream that you apply directly to the sores. You may need to first soak the affected area in warm water or use wet compresses to help remove the overlying scabs.
If you have more than just a few impetigo sores, your doctor might recommend antibiotic drugs that can be taken by mouth. Be sure to finish the entire course of medication even if the sores are healed. This helps prevent the infection from recurring and makes antibiotic resistance less likely.
Prevention
If someone in your family already has impetigo, take these measures to help keep the infection from spreading to others :
✏ Gently wash the affected areas with mild soap and running water and then cover lightly with gauze.
✏ Wash an infected person's clothes, linens and towels every day and don't share them with anyone else in your family.
✏ Wear gloves when applying any antibiotic ointment and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
✏ Cut an infected child's nails short to prevent damage from scratching.
✏ Wash hands frequently.
Impetigo may clear on its own in two to three weeks, but antibiotics can shorten the course of the disease and help prevent the spread to others.
Classification
1. Impetigo contagiosa
This most common form of impetigo, also called nonbullous impetigo, most often begins as a red sore near the nose or mouth which soon breaks, leaking pus or fluid, and forms a honey-colored scab, followed by a red mark which heals without leaving a scar. Sores are not painful, but may be itchy.
2. Bullous impetigo
Bullous impetigo, mainly seen in children younger than 2 years, involves painless, fluid-filled blisters, mostly on the arms, legs and trunk, surrounded by red and itchy (but not sore) skin. The blisters may be large or small. After they break, they form yellow scabs.
3. Ecthyma
In this form of impetigo, painful fluid- or pus-filled sores with redness of skin, usually on the arms and legs, become ulcers that penetrate deeper into the dermis. After they break open, they form hard, thick, gray-yellow scabs, which sometimes leave scars. Ecthyma may be accompanied by swollen lymph nodes in the affected area.
Causes
It is primarily caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and sometimes by Streptococcus pyogenes.
Tests and Diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose impetigo by looking at the distinctive sores. Usually, lab tests aren't necessary. But if the sores don't clear, even with antibiotic treatment, your doctor may take a sample of the liquid produced by a sore and test it to see what types of antibiotics might work best on it. Some types of the bacteria that cause impetigo have become resistant to certain antibiotic drugs.
Treatments and Drugs
Antibiotics are the mainstay of impetigo treatments. These drugs can be delivered by an ointment or cream that you apply directly to the sores. You may need to first soak the affected area in warm water or use wet compresses to help remove the overlying scabs.
If you have more than just a few impetigo sores, your doctor might recommend antibiotic drugs that can be taken by mouth. Be sure to finish the entire course of medication even if the sores are healed. This helps prevent the infection from recurring and makes antibiotic resistance less likely.
Prevention
If someone in your family already has impetigo, take these measures to help keep the infection from spreading to others :
✏ Gently wash the affected areas with mild soap and running water and then cover lightly with gauze.
✏ Wash an infected person's clothes, linens and towels every day and don't share them with anyone else in your family.
✏ Wear gloves when applying any antibiotic ointment and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
✏ Cut an infected child's nails short to prevent damage from scratching.
✏ Wash hands frequently.
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