National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Impetigo is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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National Institutes of Health
Impetigo
Impetigo is a skin infection caused by bacteria. Usually the cause is staphylococcal (staph) but sometimes streptococcus (strep) can cause it, too. It is most common in children between the ages of two and six. It usually starts when bacteria get into a break in the skin, such as a cut, scratch or insect bite.
Symptoms start with red or pimple-like sores surrounded by red skin. These sores can be anywhere, but usually they occur on your face, arms and legs. The sores fill with pus, then break open after a few days and form a thick crust. They are often itchy, but scratching them can spread the sores. Impetigo can spread by contact with sores or nasal discharge from an infected person. You can treat impetigo with antibiotics.
NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Overviews
- Impetigo(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Treatment
- Impetigo Care(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- New Ointment to Treat Impetigo(Food and Drug Administration)
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Related Issues
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Group A Streptococcal Infections(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
- Staph Infections: Staphylococcus aureus(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Group A Streptococcal Infections
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Impetigo(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Impetigo
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Organizations
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Children
- Impetigo (For Children)(Nemours Foundation)
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Teenagers
- Impetigo (For Teens)(Nemours Foundation)
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Patient Handouts
- Ecthyma
- Also available in Spanish
- Impetigo
- Also available in Spanish
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