Impetigo Dr Trisha Macnair Impetigo is a localised, highly contagious infection of the skin. Although it may occur at any age, it's most commonly seen in small children and babies.

In this article

What is impetigo? Symptoms

Causes and risk factors Treatment and recovery

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection which is most commonly seen in babies as well as small children.

Small red spots typically appear on the skin of the face (especially around the mouth and nose), neck or hands, although any part of the body may be affected.

In babies, impetigo often occurs in the nappy area.

The spots may be clustered or merge together. The centre of each one rapidly becomes a blister, which then bursts, oozing a typical golden fluid. Crusts form over the red spots, which may be itchy or slightly sore.

New crops of spots may appear over several days or weeks (if untreated) and the infection is easily spread to other parts of the body.

Impetigo is caused by infection with staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria. It's more common when there's a skin condition such as eczema, insect bites or scratches, or nappy rash (in babies). In these situations the bacteria can more easily penetrate the skin's defences and establish an infection.

If impetigo is suspected, you must take your child to see your doctor as the condition is infectious, and antibiotic treatment is important. In mild cases, antibiotic cream applied locally to the spots may be all that is needed, but in more severe cases antibiotic tablets or syrup must be taken.

In most cases impetigo heals within a week if treated with antibiotics.

Because the condition is contagious, children with impetigo must be kept from school or nursery until all the spots have crusted and dried.

To prevent a second episode, keep cuts and scratches clean, get advice for eczema or other skin conditions and take steps to prevent or treat nappy rash. In order to avoid spreading the infection, children should be told not to touch the affected area of skin and to wash their hands frequently. Their carers must also wash their hands after contact with the children. The spots should be kept as clean and dry as possible, and the child should have its own flannel and towel, which must be thoroughly laundered after use.

The bacteria that cause impetigo may be carried quite harmlessly in the nose, so sometimes your GP may suggest treating the nose with an antibiotic cream.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Orlena Kerek in February 2009