Conditions & Diseases: Skin Diseases

Impetigo

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Introduction:
Impetigo is a skin infection caused by the staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria. Staph and strep bacteria live on the skin of most people without causing problems. However, when these bacteria get inside the skin through a breakage, they can grow, cause inflammation, and infection. Impetigo skin infections are characterized as a red sore that oozes a fluid or pus which eventually dries into a honey colored crust. In time, the crust goes away to leave a red mark which eventually heals without scarring.

Although the sores are not painful, they do cause itching which can spread the lesions further. The liquid and crust which accompany impetigo are highly contagious. Scratching and touching the sores can easily spread them to other areas of the body.

Impetigo is more common in young babies and children whose immune systems are not developed enough to fight off the bacteria. However, it can also occur in teenagers and adults, especially after a cold, bronchitis or other respiratory infection that leaves the immune system weakened. In children, impetigo lesions usually occur on the face (especially around the nose and mouth), and on the hands.

According to the Mayo Clinic, ecthyma is a more serious form of impetigo because the infection penatrates deeper into the skin's second layer of skin. Symptoms include: painful pus filled sores, a thick gray-yellow crust which covers the sores, swollen lymph glands in the infected area, and scars that remain after the ulcers heal.

Causes:
As mentioned above, impetigo infections are caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria which enter the skin. Impetigo which occurs in healthy skin is called primary impetigo. Impetigo infections which occur as a result of injury to skin such as an insect bite, scratch or cut.

"The fluid which accompany impetigo infections are highly contagious and can be spread by skin-to-skin or skin-to-infected surface contact. You're exposed to the bacteria that cause impetigo when you come into contact with the sores of someone who's infected or with items they've touched, such as clothing, bed linen, towels and even toys." (1)

Impetigo is most common in children whose immune systems is not strong enough to fight off the strep and staph bacteria. However, impetigo infections can also affect adults, seniors and those with a weakened immune system.

Treatment:
Impetigo can be easily treated. In mild to moderate cases, improved hygiene, antibacterial soaps and antibacterial creams are often enough. With more severe cases or in the case of skin ulcers, oral antibiotic medications may be used in combination with the creams and soap. Most infections clear up within 7 to 10 days from when the treatment first begins. Children should be careful to not spread impetigo infections with further scratching and itching. Children, and adults, who are infected should wash their hands frequently until the lesions clear up. Any clothing, towels or bedding that may have come into contact with the impetigo should be thoroughly washed.

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Article by Jason Morrow,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Sources:
(1). Mayo Clinic, Impetigo, DS00464, October, 2006
(2). MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Impetigo, October 2006
(3). National Health Service Health Encyclopdia, Impetigo, June 2006
(4). KidsHealth.org, Nemours Foundation, Impetigo, October 2005

Impetigo is sometimes misspelled as: impetego, impitigo and impedigo.