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Impetigo

Rade N. Pejic, M.D. Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A contagious, superficial, intraepidermal infection occurring prominently on exposed areas of the face and extremities, most often seen in children

  • Primary impetigo (pyoderma): invasi...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Lesions are often described as painful.

  • May be slow and indolent or rapidly spreading

  • Most frequent on face around mouth and nose or at site of trauma

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Tender red macules or ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Treatment speeds healing, improves cosmetic appearance, and avoids spread of disease.

  • Prevent with mupirocin ointment TID to sites of minor skin trauma.

  • Remove crusts; clean wi...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Athletes are restricted from contact sports.

  • School and daycare contagious restrictions

  • Children can return to school 24 hours after initiation of antimicrobial tre...

REFERENCES

1
Stevens  DL, Bisno  AL, Chambers  HF, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Bowen  AC, Mahé  A, Hay  RJ, et al. The global epidemiology of impetigo: a systematic review of the population prevalence of impetigo and pyoderma. PLoS O...

SEE ALSO

Algorithm: Rash 

CODES

ICD10

  • L01.01 Non-bullous impetigo

  • L01.03 Bullous impetigo

  • L01.00 Impetigo, unspecified

  • L01.09 Other impetigo

  • L01.02 Bockhart's impetigo

  • L01 Impetigo

  • L01.0 Impetigo

SNOMED

  • 399183005 Impetigo bullosa

  • 238374...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Superficial, intraepidermal infection

  • Predominantly staphylococcal in origin

  • Microbial resistance patterns need to be monitored.

  • Topical treatment is recommended for limited lesions and o...

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