<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Table of content</strong></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;">Causes</span></em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;">Symptoms</span></em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;">Exams and Tests</span></em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;">Treatment</span></em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;">Outlook (Prognosis)</span></em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>Possible Complications</em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;">When to Contact a Medical Professional</span></em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;">Prevention</span></em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Impetigo is a common skin infection.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="" src="https://www.zdrav.kz/images/refs3/impeten.jpg" /></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Figure: Skin structure</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="Causes" name="Causes">Causes</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Impetigo is caused by streptococcus (strep) or staphylococcus (staph) bacteria. Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) is becoming a common cause.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The skin normally has many types of bacteria on it. When there is a break in the skin, bacteria can enter the body and grow there. This causes inflammation and infection. Breaks in the skin may occur with:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Animal bites</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Human bites</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Injury or trauma to the skin</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Insect bites</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Impetigo may also occur on skin where there is no visible break.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">It is most common in children who live in unhealthy conditions.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In adults, it may occur following another skin problem. It may also develop after a cold or other virus.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Impetigo can spread to others. You can catch the infection if the fluid that oozes from the blisters touches an open area on your skin.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="Symptoms" name="Symptoms">Symptoms</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Symptoms of impetigo are:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">One or&nbsp;many blisters filled with pus that are easy to pop. In infants, the skin is reddish or raw-looking where a blister has broken.&nbsp;</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Blisters that itch:</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Filled with yellow or honey-colored fluid</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Oozing and crusting over</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Rash&nbsp;that may begin as a single spot, but spreads to other areas with scratching</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Skin sores&nbsp;on the face, lips, arms, or legs, that spread to other areas</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Swollen lymph nodes near the infection</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="Exams and Tests" name="Exams and Tests">Exams and Tests</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Your health care provider will look at your skin to determine if you have impetigo.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The health care provider may take a sample of bacteria from your skin to grow in the lab.This can help determine if MRSA is the cause. Specific antibiotics are needed to treat this type of bacteria.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="Treatment" name="Treatment">Treatment</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The goal is to cure the infection and relieve the symptoms.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Your doctor will prescribe an&nbsp;antibacterial cream. You may need to take&nbsp;antibiotics by mouth if the infection is severe.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Wash (do not scrub) the skin several times a day with an antibacterial soap to remove crusts and drainage.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="Outlook (Prognosis)" name="Outlook (Prognosis)">Outlook (Prognosis)</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The sores of impetigo heal slowly. Scars are rare.&nbsp;The cure rate is very high, but the problem often comes back in young children.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="Possible Complications" name="Possible Complications">Possible Complications</a></span></span></h2>

<ul>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Kidney failure&nbsp;(post-streptococcal&nbsp;glomerulonephritis) (rare)</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Many patches of impetigo (in children)</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Permanent skin damage and scarring (very rare)</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Spread of the infection to other parts of the body (common)</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="When to Contact a Medical Professional" name="When to Contact a Medical Professional">When to Contact a Medical Professional</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of impetigo.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="Prevention" name="Prevention">Prevention</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Prevent the spread of infection.</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">If you have impetigo, always use a clean washcloth and towel each time.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Do not share towels, clothing, razors, and other personal care products with other family members.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Avoid touching blisters that are oozing.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align: justify;">
	<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Wash your hands thoroughly after touching infected skin.</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Keep your skin clean to prevent getting the infection. Clean minor cuts and scrapes well with soap and clean water. You can use a mild antibacterial soap.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Source:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000860.htm">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000860.htm</a></span></span></p>
