Bacterial Impetigo

Question 1

What is impetigo?

Answer 1

A very common superficial skin infection. It is also known as school sores as it is most common amongst children. It can be divided into non-bullous and bullous forms.

Question 2

What is the epidemiology of impetigo?

Answer 2

• 70% of cases of impetigo are non-bullous
• More common in hot areas or late summer
• Most commonly found in preschool children

Question 3

What are the causes of impetigo?

Answer 3

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus pyogenes
• Can be caught from someone else or appears at the site of broken skin, e.g. graze, bite or scratch

Question 4

What are the risk factors for impetigo?

Answer 4

• Playing close contact sports
• Poor hygiene
• Skin conditions that break the skin’s protective barrier

Question 5

What are the signs/symptoms of impetigo?

Answer 5

• Honey (honeycomb appearance) coloured crusted plaques on exposed areas of the face

Question 6

What are the differential diagnosis for impetigo?

Answer 6

• Contact dermatitis
• Scabies
• Herpes simplex skin infection
• Bullous pemphigoid

Question 7

What are the investigations for impetigo?

Answer 7

Swab for culture and sensitivity

Question 8

What are the treatments for impetigo?

Answer 8

• Cleansing, removing crusts and application of wet dressing
• Topical mupirocin or fusidic acid
• Oral antibiotics (fluclox or eryth)