Overview
Impetigo (im-puh-TIE-go) is a common and highly contagious skin infection that mainly affects infants and young children. It usually appears as reddish sores on the face, especially around the nose and mouth and on the hands and feet. Over about a week, the sores burst and develop honey-colored crusts.
Impetigo
Illustration of impetigo on different skin colors. Sores mainly occur around the nose and mouth in infants and children.
Treatment with antibiotics can limit the spread of impetigo to others. Keep children home from school or day care until they’re no longer contagious — usually 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment.
Symptoms
The main symptom of impetigo is reddish sores, often around the nose and mouth. The sores quickly rupture, ooze for a few days and then form a honey-colored crust. Sores can spread to other areas of the body through touch, clothing and towels. Itching and soreness are generally mild.
A less common form of the condition called bullous impetigo causes larger blisters on the trunk of infants and young children. Ecthyma is a serious form of impetigo that causes painful fluid- or pus-filled sores.
Bullous impetigo
Bullous impetigo causes fluid-filled blisters often on the trunk, arms and legs of infants and children younger than 2 years.
Ecthyma
A more serious form of impetigo, called ecthyma, penetrates deeper into the skin causing painful fluid- or pus-filled sores that turn into deep ulcers.
When to see a doctor
If you suspect that you or your child has impetigo, consult your family doctor, your child’s pediatrician or a dermatologist.
