SKIN INFECTION IN KIDS AND HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLERS IMPETIGO WITH HONEY COLORED CRUSTS VERY CONTAGIOUS IMPETIGO IS TREATED BY ANTIBIOTICS

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A common skin infection that most parents (and some high school wrestling coaches) have seen is called impetigo. Impetigo is a skin infection of the top layers of the skin (epidermis) caused by bacteria, staphylococcus (staph) bacteria, but it also can be caused by group A streptococcus. Impetigo is most common among children but adults also get impetigo too! It usually starts when bacteria get into a cut, scratch, or insect bite. Insect bites, chicken pox, herpes simplex virus, and other conditions that involve breaks in the skin predispose people to the formation of impetigo.Impetigo usually is transmitted through direct contact.It can start with a small red spot or pimple-like lesions surrounded by reddened skin. The spot or bump turns into a blister. The blisters break easily and leave a honey-colored crust. Sometimes the blisters get very large. They usually are on the face or arms but also can be in damp areas like the diaper area or armpit.







Impetigo is very contagious, and you can get it by touching other people who have it. Kids in high school wrestling programs can get skin infections during close contact including impetigo,ringworm and Herpes Gladiatorum. You can spread impetigo on yourself by scratching. There are two classic forms of impetigo, with blisters (bullous impetigo) and without blisters (nonbullous impetigo). An infrequent but serious complication of impetigo is acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis ( an inflammation of small blood vessels in the kidney).It is a serious complication that affects between 1 and 5 percent of patients with nonbullous impetigo.



Treatment of impetigo is with antibiotics. There are topical and oral antibiotics that can be used with impetigo. Bactroban Mupirocin 2% ointment is a well known topical antibiotic often used for impetigo. Oral antibiotics are also used for impetigo.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Impetigo