Impetigo
A contagious, superficial skin infection, impetigo (also known as impetigo contagiosa) occurs in nonbullous and bullous forms. This vesiculopustular eruptive disorder spreads most easily among infants, young children, and the elderly.
Predisposing factors—such as poor hygiene, anemia, malnutrition, and a warm climate—favor outbreaks of this infection, most of which occur during the late summer and early fall. Impetigo can complicate chickenpox, eczema, and other skin conditions marked by open lesions.
Causes
Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (or a combination of both) produce epidermal infections.
Signs and symptoms
Common nonbullous impetigo typically begins with a small red macule that turns into a vesicle, becoming pustular with a honey-colored crust within hours. When the vesicle breaks, a thick yellow crust forms from the exudate. Autoinoculation may cause satellite lesions. Other features include pruritus, burning, and regional lymphadenopathy.
A rare but serious complication of streptococcal impetigo is glomerulonephritis.
With bullous impetigo
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