Impetigo

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Impetigo 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.

Impetigo (im-puh-TIE-go) is a common and 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, and on hands and feet. The sores burst and develop honey-colored crusts.

Treatment with antibiotics is generally recommended to help prevent the spread of impetigo to others. It’s important to keep your child home from school or day care until he or she is no longer contagious — usually 24 hours after you begin antibiotic treatment.

Bullous impetigo causes fluid-filled blisters — often on the trunk, arms and legs of infants and children younger than 2 years.

A more serious form of impetigo, called ecthyma, penetrates deeper into the skin — causing painful fluid- or pus-filled sores that turn into deep ulcers.

Classic signs and symptoms of impetigo involve red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days and then form a yellowish-brown crust. The sores usually occur around the nose and mouth but can be spread to other areas of the body by fingers, clothing and towels. Itching and soreness are generally mild.

A less common form of the disorder, called bullous impetigo, may feature larger blisters that occur on the trunk of infants and young children.

A more serious form of impetigo, called ecthyma, penetrates deeper into the skin — causing painful fluid- or pus-filled sores that turn into deep ulcers.

If you suspect that you or your child has impetigo, consult your family doctor, your child’s pediatrician or a dermatologist.

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.

Factors that increase the risk of impetigo include:

Adults and people with diabetes or a weakened immune system are more likely to develop ecthyma.

Impetigo typically isn’t dangerous. And the sores in mild forms of the infection generally heal without scarring.

Rarely, complications of impetigo include:

Keeping skin clean is the best way to keep it healthy. It’s important to wash cuts, scrapes, insect bites and other wounds right away.

To help prevent impetigo from spreading to others:

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Impetigo

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