What Is Impetigo – A Brief Definition

Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that is spread due to contact with skin lesions of infected individuals or from contact with people who carry the bacteria in their nose. The condition is common in children and often spreads rapidly through preschools and day cares where children are in close contact with one another. The condition is also readily spread among athletes for the same reason. It is more prevalent in warm, humid environments.

Once exposed to one of the strands of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes) that causes impetigo, symptoms generally begin to appear within one to three days. It’s very important to seek out medical attention for moderate to severe cases since one of the most effective impetigo treatments is the use of prescription strength antibiotics. Today most cases of impetigo are treated with either topical or oral antibiotics, or through a combination of both.

How Impetigo Spreads

The best way to combat and treat impetigo is to help stop its spread. Those affected with impetigo should bathe regularly and keep their sores covered whenever possible. Care should also be taken to avoid contact with the personal belongings of an individual who is suffering from impetigo since the bacteria can be spread in this way.

Even though the sores and lesions can become extremely itchy, it’s important to avoid scratching them. If you scratch an infected lesion, you can easily spread it to other areas of your body or pass it on to other family members. Children with impetigo should be closely monitored and have their fingernails cut short to reduce the risk of spreading the infection as much as possible.

A person with impetigo should also make sure that his clothing and bed linens are washed separately from the rest of the family in order to help prevent infection. This also extends to things like washcloths, toys, backpacks, and other household items that might be used or touched by multiple individuals.

How To Treat Impetigo

No matter how careful you are, it’s still possible that other members of the family will become infected with impetigo. To reduce the risk, try an impetigo treatment such as Stephen Sanderson’s Fast Impetigo Cure which greatly reduces the amount of time an individual remains contagious. This form of treatment for impetigo also reduces the amount of time it takes to recover from impetigo symptoms.

Mild cases of impetigo are most often treated with topical antibiotic ointments such as mupirocin (Bactroban) and fusidic acid. For more severe impetigo and in cases where topical antibiotics don’t produce the desired result, oral antibiotics become the next step.

There’s no standard impetigo treatment, and your doctor might choose from several different antibiotics. Although doctors tend to be more informed than the general public when it comes to impetigo treatment, they can also be extremely expensive. This is another reason Stephen Sanderson’s Fast Impetigo Cure continues to gain popularity.

Impetigo is extremely unappealing from a visual standpoint, but it usually doesn’t result in any serious complications. This is especially true if a patient is proactive and treats the infection rather than letting it run its course. If left untreated, impetigo can spread rapidly to others and can lead to complications such as glomerulonephritis, a serious condition of the kidneys. By using common sense and good hygiene it’s possible to help prevent the spread of the bacteria that causes this illness, thus reducing the possibility of complications.

Impetigo Treatment – Some Final Thoughts

It’s a good idea to bathe regularly and wash your hands frequently just as a manner of good hygiene. Before applying a topical impetigo treatment, make sure the area is clean so you can get maximum benefit from the medicine. Symptoms should start to clear in just a few days, but it may take a couple weeks to fully recover and heal. In the event that you or someone in your family is infected, be sure to avoid sharing clothing, towels, and other household items that could be contaminated with the bacteria.

With the many types of impetigo treatment available today, it’s much easier to stop the spread of this highly infectious disease. One extremely good treatment for impetigo worth checking out is Stephen Sanderson’s Fast Impetigo Cure. Through his research, Stephen has been able to cut the typical treatment and recovery time for impetigo from 7-21 days down to around 3 days for most cases.

If you’ve never heard of impetigo before, then your first question will most likely be, “What is impetigo?”

Impetigo is a contagious, superficial skin infection.  The condition is sometimes referred to as “school sores” because it is most common in preschool and school-age children between the ages of 2 and 7. However, it can also occur in older kids and adults where a more serious and deeper type of skin infection (ecthyma) is more likely to develop.

Impetigo is the most common bacterial skin infection among children, and usually presents on the face, around the nose and mouth, on the hands and forearms, and in young children around the diaper area, under the armpits, and other areas where folds of skin occur. It is also the third most common skin condition overall trailing only dermatitis and viral warts.

Studies from the United Kingdom suggest approximately 2.8% of children aged 0-4 and 1.6% of children aged 5-15 get impetigo. It is more common in children on dialysis and those who grow up in or frequent crowded living conditions such as military bases, day cares, and schools.

What Causes Impetigo?

Impetigo is most commonly caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. However, Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep) also plays a role in some types of impetigo. An impetigo infection is considered highly contagious and is most commonly passed through direct contact. It can spread rapidly through day cares and schools where children scratch the itchy infection and then easily spread it to other areas of their own bodies or to other children.

The bacteria that cause impetigo (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes) normally occur on the skin.  Often these bacteria enter the body in a place where the skin has already been irritated by cuts, scrapes, insect bites, poison ivy, or eczema and cause an infection.  Impetigo can also enter the body through healthy skin, but this is less common.

Fomites are also important in the spread of impetigo. A fomite is any inanimate object capable of carrying infectious organisms. This can include things like towels, blankets, washcloths, stuffed animals, and clothing.

What Are The Different Types Of Impetigo?

Two types of impetigo are generally recognized. These are nonbullous impetigo (impetigo contagiosa) and bullous impetigo. Nonbullous impetigo accounts for about 70% of cases.

Sometimes cultures are used to distinguish between the two types, but most often a clinical diagnosis is all that is needed. Nonbullous impetigo tends to result from a host response to the infection whereas bullous impetigo is caused by a staphylococcal toxin. A subtype of nonbullous impetigo (common impetigo) is known to complicate other diseases such as diabetes and AIDS. This subtype is also referred to as impetiginous or secondary impetigo.

What are the Symptoms of Impetigo?

Nonbullous Impetigo

Nonbullous impetigo generally starts out as small red papules that often resemble insect bites or a small cluster of pimples. These papules then enlarge and turn into small blisters which will then pop, ooze, and eventually scab over into a gold/honey colored crust that is said to resemble brown sugar. 

These sores are not usually painful, but will be extremely itchy in most cases. The face, extremities, and other areas of the body exposed to the environment are most commonly affected. Sometimes a low-grade fever will accompany the outbreak of impetigo and other flu-like symptoms, such as body aches and chills, may also be present.

Bullous Impetigo

Bullous impetigo is most common in newborns, but it also occurs less frequently in older children and adults. It is caused by toxins released by Staphylococcus aureus and tends to favor areas of moisture such as the edge of diapers and areas where folds of skin come together such as in the neck and armpits.

Bullous impetigo is characterized by large, fluid filled blisters. There is usually no redness of the skin (erythema) surrounding the blisters. These blisters tend to rupture and ooze, resulting in a yellow crust as the contents dry. Bullous impetigo tends to be less contagious than nonbullous impetigo and associated symptoms may also include fever, diarrhea, and general fatigue and weakness.

Impetigo Treatment

Impetigo will often heal on its own within 2 to 3 weeks. Since it is a superficial skin infection, scarring is rarely a problem. However, medical treatment should still be sought by parents who want to relieve a child’s discomfort and improve the cosmetic appearance of the lesions quickly.

A quick look through impetigo pictures, and it’s clear the infection can look downright nasty in a hurry. It can also be extremely uncomfortable because the sores and lesions tend to be extremely itchy. Taking action and seeking medical treatment is advised over letting the infection run its own course.

Medical treatment is also advised to prevent Staph and Strep bacteria from spreading and causing more serious illnesses such as glomerulonephritis. Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the blood vessels (glomeruli) in the kidneys and can lead to a decrease in kidney function. Other rare but possible complications from leaving impetigo untreated include sepsis, arthritis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pneumonia, cellulitis, toxic shock syndrome, and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.

Impetigo treatment alternatives such as the Fast Impetigo Cure can provide instant relief from impetigo symptoms and can greatly reduce the time it takes for your child to heal from impetigo.

Impetigo treatment most commonly involves the use of antibiotics.  In cases of mild impetigo, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic ointment or cream to spread on the affected area several times a day.  Common topical antibiotics include mupirocin (Bactroban) and fusidic acid, although the latter is not licensed for use in the United States.

For more severe cases of impetigo, oral antibiotics may be used in conjunction with an ointment or cream.  There is no standard treatment for impetigo and your doctor may prescribe any of the following:

• Antistaphylococcal penicillins
• Amoxicillin/clavulanate
• Cephalosporins
• Macrolides

Erythromycin is sometimes also prescribed, but Staph and Strep bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to it. In most cases, there should be noticeable improvement within three days of beginning treatment with antibiotics. 

When applying an impetigo treatment, it is important to wash the sores gently with soap and water several times per day prior to applying the antibiotic ointment.  If sores are crusty, keep a moist towel on the sores for fifteen minutes and gently remove all of the crust and gently pat dry before applying antibiotic ointment. This keeps the area clean and allows the medication to work most effectively on the outbreak. 

How To Prevent Impetigo

There are some important points to keep in mind if you want to prevent the spread of impetigo. When applying a topical impetigo treatment, always be sure to use a fresh washcloth every time you wash the sores, and be sure not to share towels or washcloths with anybody else during an outbreak. Wash all washcloths and towels in hot water prior to using again to help prevent spreading the infection on the patient or transmitting the infection to anybody else.

It’s also extremely important not to scratch the sores to prevent the spread of impetigo to other areas of the body and to prevent the infection from spreading to other individuals. This can be extremely difficult to do, especially with children, because the sores and lesions tend to be extremely itchy. Keep your child’s fingernails short and, if necessary, cover the affected area with gauze or bandages to help prevent scratching.

Good hygiene can help prevent impetigo.  Washing the skin and hands regularly with soap and water will reduce the chances of staph and strep bacteria causing an infection and will also prevent impetigo from spreading if the condition is already present.  If somebody you know is infected with impetigo, do not share items such as towels, washcloths, pillows, or blankets. 

If you have any skin irritations or open cuts, be sure to keep them clean and covered if possible to help reduce the chance of infection. If you or your child has impetigo, seek medical help and apply an effective impetigo treatment rather than waiting for the infection to heal on its own.

Summary Points About Impetigo

Here are some key summary points about impetigo and impetigo treatment:

• What is impetigo? Impetigo (also known as school sores) is a highly contagious, superficial skin infection most common in children aged 2-7.
• Impetigo is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.
• There are two main types of impetigo: nonbullous and bullous.
• Impetigo treatment most commonly consists of topical and/or oral antibiotics.
• Impetigo is most commonly passed from one individual to another through direct contact and spreads rapidly in places like day cares, military bases, and schools.
• Good hygiene is important to prevent impetigo and to stop it from spreading.
• If you, your child, or someone you know is infected with impetigo, don’t share towels, blankets, pillowcases, toys, and other items which can act as fomites and spread the disease to others.
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