impetigo
Also known as School sores, impetigo contagiosa
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Impetigo
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- School sores, impetigo contagiosa
- Medical condition (new).image
- Impetigo2020.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- A case of impetigo on the chin
- Medical condition (new).field
- Dermatology, infectious disease
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Yellowish skin crusts, painful
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Cellulitis, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
- Medical condition (new).onset
- Young children
- Medical condition (new).duration
- Less than 3 weeks
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes which spreads by direct contact
- Medical condition (new).risks
- Day care, crowding, poor nutrition, diabetes mellitus, contact sports, breaks in the skin
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Contagious impetigo
- Bullous impetigo
- Ecthyma
- Causes
- Predisposing factors
- Transmission
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Prognosis
- Epidemiology
- History
- References
- External links
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the superficial skin. The most common presentation is yellowish crusts on the face, arms, or legs. Less commonly there may be large blisters which affect the groin or armpits. The lesions may be painful or itchy. Fever is uncommon.
It is typically due to either Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Risk factors include attending day care, crowding, poor nutrition, diabetes mellitus, contact sports, and breaks in the skin such as from mosquito bites, eczema, scabies, or herpes. With contact it can spread around or between people. Diagnosis is typically based on the symptoms and appearance.