Impetigo: Recognizing this Common Skin Infection

What is Impetigo?

Impetigo (im-puh-TIE-go) is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that primarily affects infants and young children, although adults can catch it as well. It usually appears as red sores on the face, specifically around the nose and mouth, or on the hands and feet. The infection occurs when bacteria—typically Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) or Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep)—enter the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut, scratch, insect bite, or eczema patch.

Types of Impetigo and Their Symptoms

Impetigo manifests in two main forms, each with distinct visual characteristics:

• Non-Bullous Impetigo: This is the most common form. It begins as tiny red sores that quickly rupture, oozing fluid or pus for a few days. As the sores heal, they form the classic, honey-colored crust or scab. These sores are usually itchy but not particularly painful. They often spread to other parts of the body if the child scratches the sore and then touches another area.
• Bullous Impetigo: This type is less common and typically affects infants and children under age two. It features larger, painless, fluid-filled blisters (bullae) that usually appear on the trunk, arms, or legs. The blisters may eventually break open and leave yellow crusts, but the crusting is less prominent than in the non-bullous type.

How Impetigo Spreads

Impetigo is incredibly contagious. It spreads through direct physical contact with the sores of an infected person, or by touching items they have recently touched, such as clothing, bed linens, towels, or toys. Children easily transmit the bacteria to each other in crowded environments like schools, daycares, and sports teams.

An infected child remains contagious until the sores have completely healed, or until they have been treated with a prescription antibiotic for at least 24 to 48 hours.

Preventing the Spread at Home

If someone in your household has impetigo, strict hygiene is crucial to prevent the infection from passing to other family members:

• Gently wash the sores daily with mild soap and water, and lightly pat dry.
• Cover the sores loosely with gauze and tape to prevent the child from scratching and spreading the bacteria.
• Wash the infected person's clothes, towels, and bed sheets daily in hot water, and do not share them with anyone else in the family.
• Ensure everyone in the household washes their hands frequently and thoroughly.
• Keep the infected child's fingernails trimmed short to minimize skin damage from scratching.

Fast Treatment Under the Minor Ailments Program

While mild cases of impetigo may sometimes clear up on their own within a few weeks, medical treatment is strongly recommended to speed up healing, prevent the infection from spreading, and reduce the risk of rare but serious complications (such as kidney damage from Strep bacteria).

At Ultima Pharmacy, you don't need to wait for a doctor's appointment. Under Ontario's minor ailment prescribing program, our specially trained pharmacists can assess the characteristic honey-colored crusts. For localized non-bullous impetigo, we can immediately prescribe a powerful topical antibiotic ointment (such as mupirocin or fusidic acid) applied directly to the sores. If the infection is widespread or accompanied by a fever, we will rapidly refer you to our on-site walk-in clinic physicians for oral antibiotics.

Visit our North York pharmacy today to stop the spread and start the healing process.