Impetigo - school sores
Impetigo is a skin infection caused by the Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria, or both. It is also known as ‘school sores’, because it commonly affects school-age children. Staphylococcus bacteria can live harmlessly on and inside various areas of the body, such as the skin surface and nose; cuts, abrasions or eczema allow the bacteria to cause infection of deeper skin tissues. Healthy, intact skin can sometimes develop impetigo, too. The condition is characterised by collections of small, crusting blisters that usually form on the face or limbs.
Impetigo looks unsightly, but it isn’t dangerous and doesn’t cause any lasting damage to the skin. However, it is highly contagious. A child with a case of impetigo should be kept home from school or day care until the sores are fully healed. The child may return earlier if appropriate treatment has begun and the exposed sores are fully covered with a waterproof dressing. Impetigo is more common during the warmer months.
Symptoms
After an incubation period of around one to three days, the evolution of impetigo includes the following process:
- The skin itches and reddens
- A collection of blisters forms, commonly around the nose and mouth
- The blisters pop and weep a yellow, sticky fluid
- The area develops a raised and wet-looking crust
- The crust dries and falls off
- The skin completely heals after a few days.
If large areas of the skin are affected, symptoms may also include:
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- General malaise.
Impetigo is highly contagious, particularly when the site is weeping, since the blisters and crusts are filled with bacteria. The skin is usually itchy, so the child scratches and transmits the infection from under their fingernails to other areas of the body, or to another person. Infection can also be spread by handling contaminated clothing or articles.
Treatment options
If left untreated, impetigo can lead to skin abscesses. Impetigo is diagnosed by taking a swab of the blisters or crust, and checking for the presence of bacteria. The infection is treated with prescription antibiotic ointment or cream. The cream needs to be reapplied until the sores have completely healed. Antibiotic syrups or tablets may also be prescribed. A waterproof dressing can stop the child from scratching the sores. Antiseptic or antibacterial soaps may prevent further spread of infection, and frequent swabbing with warm salty water will help dry out the crusts.
Preventing transmission to others
Suggestions to reduce the risk of transmission to other family members include:
- Wash the child’s linen, towels and clothes separately
- Don’t share toiletries, towels or similar items
- Encourage everyone to wash their hands frequently
- The child should keep fingernails short and try not to scratch
- No one should touch the child’s sores unnecessarily
- Throw used dressings away promptly, and thoroughly wash hands
- Use antiseptic or antibacterial soaps.
Keep the infected person well away from young babies. Impetigo is a serious condition for newborns because the child’s reduced immunity can’t keep the infection in check. Without prompt treatment, a severe case of impetigo may threaten the baby’s life.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Nurse on Call Tel. 1300 606 024 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
- Your chemist.
- Impetigo is a highly contagious type of skin infection caused by the Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria.
- The infection is characterised by inflamed blisters that pop, weep and form crusts.
- Treatment options include antibiotic creams and tablets.
Related articles:
Genital herpes.
Infections - bacterial and viral.
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Article publication date: 27/11/2000
Last reviewed: 29/11/2007
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