What is impetigo?
Impetigo is a superficial skin infection caused by bacteria. It is commonly seen in babies and children in the age group of 2-6 years However, it can be seen in all ages. It is a mild infection of the skin that affects the exposed areas of the skin such as around the nose and mouth, arms and legs. Apart from these parts, it can affect any areas in the body that remain moist such as armpits, groin, etc.
Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus group A are the bacteria that cause impetigo. These are the bacteria that reside almost everywhere in our environment, air, water or even in our body. They wait until they get favorable conditions to thrive. They attack when the person has weak immunity or other medical conditions that make them susceptible to catch infections.
What are the symptoms of Impetigo?
- Impetigo starts with the appearance of red sores in the exposed skin areas and these sores then burst open and the fluid oozes out.
- The sores are itchy and painful
- There might be clear fluid or oozing out for few days after the sores break.
- Yellow crust or scab formation occurs over the sore.
- The sore may heal without leaving any scar or mark.
It may take up to ten days for the sores to heal completely. Fever is seen in some cases only. Pain and itching may be present at the affected site.
What are the cause of impetigo?
The causative agents are the bacteria. These are two bacteria:
- Group A Streptococcus
- Staphylococcus Aureus
What are the risk factors of impetigo infection?
Impetigo can occur in people of any age and almost any area of the skin. However, certain factors act risk factors for the cause and spread of the infection in humans.
They are:
- Age: Impetigo can be commonly seen in infants and children within 2 to 7 years of age. As the babies have low immunity and skin are exposed more often, they are more at risk of having impetigo infection.
- Climate: Impetigo is found more in the areas with hot and humid climate.
- Poor personal hygiene: If the personal hygiene is poor, it can be a high risk for getting not only impetigo but any infections of the skin. Improper or lack of hand washing increases the risk of acquiring impetigo.
- Presence of other skin infections: Person having skin infections such as eczema, scabies or any other infections may be at risk of having impetigo.
- Diabetes: If you have diabetes, it may increase your risk of having impetigo.
- Crowding places: The persons coming in close contact with the crowd or playing contact sports, or sending kids to the day care are more prone to have impetigo.
- Skin tears or breaks: The bacteria causing impetigo can easily gain entry through any break or tears in the skin. Any cuts or wounds can act as an entry portal for the bacteria or germs. Skin injuries causing cuts or scrapes can cause impetigo if infected.
- Habit of sharing things: Impetigo can spread rapidly within persons who often share their towels, clothes and bedding.
- Insect bites: Some babies often get a quick development of sores on getting insect bites.
How can impetigo spread from one person to another?
Impetigo is an infectious skin condition presenting alone or along with other skin conditions.
It spreads mostly through Skin-to-skin contact with the infected person.
If you have sores of impetigo, there are higher chances of you spreading it on to your family members or other people around you, if you:
- Use the same towel they use
- Touch your sores and then touch them
- Share the bed with them
- Share soaps or clothes with them.
- Your sores are draining and you touch your faces to them.
- are a member of sports group and participate in sports activity with sores.
How can we diagnose impetigo?
Diagnosis of impetigo can be easily done by examining the type of sores present. The typicality of the sores symptoms makes it easy to identify that the skin infection is nothing but impetigo. Further blood tests and culture tests can be ordered to rule out the infection.
What is the treatment of impetigo?
Impetigo usually heals on its own and the sores form scabs. These scabs shed off and without leaving any scar behind heal.completely.
The treatment of impetigo can be done by topical skin applications, antibiotic medications and maintaining the personal hygiene. There are no over the counter medications available. It is best to seek your doctor's advice.
How can we prevent the spread of impetigo infection?
Impetigo is highly contagious but it isn't a very serious problem. With proper prevention measures, it can be avoided.
Practice good wound/sore care:
- The sores of impetigo can heal within a week or two. Always keep them covered most of the time when you are surrounded by people. Use of antiseptic dressing or bandages can help. Let it be open when you are alone to let some air on the wound to facilitate drying.
- Take care of the sores by applying the antibiotic topical skin creams such as mupirocin or anything else as ordered by your doctor. Follow the directions of use.
- Wash your hands and clean the draining sores. Let them dry, apply medicine and then cover them loosely when you intend to go out.
- If possible avoid touching the sores. If somehow you touch it accidentally, go and wash your hand immediately. This removes the germs on your hands and helps prevent the spread of infection to others.
Practice good personal hygiene:
- Any infection can be prevented by maintaining good personal hygiene. Most of the contagious infections are spread through contact with infected hands. Handwashing is the one of the most effective preventive measure to control the spread of any infection.
- Clean your face at least twice a day to prevent yourself from any facial skin infections.
- Wash your hands frequently. It can kill the germs on hands and help in preventing the spread of infection.
- Learn more Why handwashing is important?
- Keyfacts about handwashing on WHO
Getting your infection treatment:
- While you have an infection, you need to visit your doctor if it does not go on its own.
- See your doctor and start the treatment.
- Never leave any treatment regimen incomplete. The chances of recurrence of infection increase tenfold when you stop your treatment course in between.
- Once you are on antibiotics, the risk of spreading infection to otherss decreases coonsiderably.
- When your sores heal, you wont spread infection to others.
Impetigo can occur again anytime. There are no such vaccines for impetigo and any other medical conditions or poor personal hygiene may increase your risk to have impetigo.
Impetigo is a skin infection caused by bacteria which mostly affects the topmost layer of the skin. It presents with the symptoms such as formation of itchy red sores that tend to heal within a couple of weeks. The sores may drain any fluid or pus and ultimately form a yellow scab. Only in some cases called Ecthyma, the bacterial infection penetrates deep down the skin and causes more painful skin lesions. Impetigo sores can be easily identified. With good hand hygiene and care it is possible to prevent impetigo.
Note: This post is for informational and educational purpose only, It is not a substitute to any medical or professional advice or treatment. See your doctor in any case.
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