Impetigo, Contagious Skin Infection: Causes, Treatment & Prevention (original) (raw)

When do impetigo symptoms start?

Typically, symptoms of impetigo develop within three days once the bacteria infect your child’s skin. Impetigo on the face starts around the mouth and nose. However, impetigo on the scalp or hairline can also occur.

What does impetigo look like?

Impetigo includes blisters, rashes and other skin wounds (lesions). The condition includes the following characteristics:

• Impetigo blisters may be pus-filled and burst easily. The fluid may be yellow or tan and it may seep out and form a crust.
• Impetigo rash can spread and cause red, raw skin.
• Skin lesions on your child’s lips, nose, ears, arms and legs may appear. The lesions can spread to other parts of their body.
• Swollen lymph nodes near the infected area may develop.

If you or your child has impetigo caused by Staph bacteria, you may notice:

• Reddish skin surrounding red blisters, full of liquid or pus that eventually looks cloudy.
• Blisters that burst easily and leak.
• Raw, shiny areas that scab over with a yellowish-brown crust.

What causes impetigo?

Impetigo causes include certain types of bacteria that lead to infection. The most common impetigo bacteria include:

• Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus or “staph”): S. aureus causes 80% of non-bullous impetigo cases.
• Group A streptococcus (“strep”): Group A strep causes 10% of non-bullous cases.

The bacteria usually enter your child’s skin through a cut, scrape, rash or insect bite. After they enter your child’s body, the bacteria continue growing in their skin. This can lead to inflammation and infection in the top layers of your child’s skin.

Your child may also get impetigo by scratching something itchy on their skin, such as chickenpox or eczema. When they scratch, it breaks the skin, making it easy for bacteria to get in.

Impetigo may also occur without any skin breakage. Instead, it can occur after you’ve experienced another skin condition, such as:

Adults can also get impetigo through health conditions such as tattoo infections.

Can stress cause impetigo in adults?

No, stress doesn’t cause impetigo. However, stress can weaken your immune system. With a weakened immune system, it’s easier for bacteria to infect you and harder for your body to fight them.

Is impetigo contagious?

Impetigo is highly contagious. Most people get it through direct skin-to-skin contact. You can get impetigo by coming into contact with sores, mucus or nasal discharge from someone who has it. Children and athletes, such as football players and wrestlers, often get it this way.

People can also spread impetigo by sharing items such as towels, clothing or other personal items with an infected person.

How long is impetigo contagious?

Without treatment, impetigo can be contagious for weeks. After starting impetigo treatment, the condition is contagious until:

• The rash disappears.
• Scabs fall off.
• You’ve finished at least two days of antibiotics.

What are the complications of impetigo?

Complications are rare. Certain strains of strep bacteria that cause impetigo can also cause glomerulonephritis. This inflammatory kidney disease can produce high blood pressure and blood in your pee (hematuria). Other complications of impetigo may include:

• The rash spreading to deeper skin layers.
• The bacterial infection spreading to other parts of your body.
• Permanent skin damage and/or scarring.