Skip to content
impetigo

File:Impetigo2020.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ28971· pop 45· linked from 325 articles

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
Medical condition (new).prevention
Hand washing, avoiding infected people, cleaning injuries
Medical condition (new).treatment
Based on symptoms
Medical condition (new).medication
Antibiotics (mupirocin, fusidic acid, cefalexin)
Medical condition (new).frequency
140 million (2010)

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image
Impetigo elbow.jpg
Show 5 more facts
ICPC 2 ID
S84
Commons category
Impetigo
NCI Thesaurus ID
C99088
ICD-9-CM
684
Sources (6)

via Wikidata · CC0

~8 min read

Article

16 sections
Contents
  • 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.

Gallery (7)

Connections

Categories