What antibiotics treat impetigo?
Impetigo is treated with prescription mupirocin antibiotic ointment or cream applied directly to the sores two to three times a day for five to 10 days. Before applying the medicine, soak the area in warm water or apply a wet cloth compress for a few minutes.
What microorganisms cause impetigo?
Impetigo is a common bacterial skin infection caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) or “strep.”
Can impetigo cause cellulitis?
Rarely, complications of impetigo include: Cellulitis. This potentially life-threatening infection affects the tissues underlying the skin and eventually may spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream.
When did impetigo first appear?
Most often, these are children aged 2-4 years. The onset is usually 10 days after impetigo lesions first appear, but it can occur from 1-5 weeks later.
What helps impetigo heal faster?
Antibiotic creams are often used in order to make the symptoms go away faster and stop the infection from spreading. Antibiotic tablets may be used if the impetigo has spread over larger areas of skin. All antibiotic medications have to be prescribed by a doctor.
What is the main cause of impetigo?
Two Bacteria Can Cause Impetigo Impetigo is a skin infection caused by one or both of the following bacteria: group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. This page focuses on impetigo caused by group A Streptococcus (group A strep). In addition to impetigo, group A strep cause many other types of infections.
Where is impetigo most commonly found?
In general, impetigo is a mild infection that can occur anywhere on the body. It most often affects exposed skin, such as around the nose and mouth or on the arms or legs. Symptoms include red, itchy sores that break open and leak a clear fluid or pus for a few days.
Is impetigo caused by poor hygiene?
Individuals with poor hygiene, diabetes or a weakened immune system are also more vulnerable to contracting an impetigo infection. Adults are at higher risk than children for complications of impetigo.
How is cellulitis different from impetigo?
Impetigo is a non-life-threatening infection, but can result in post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (AGN). Cellulitis and erysipelas can be mild or moderately severe, while necrotizing fasciitis, myonecrosis and StrepTSS are life-threatening.
Is impetigo like cellulitis?
What are Cellulitis and Impetigo? A. They are both common skin infections. Cellulitis affects your skin and the soft tissue below it.
What is the best cream for impetigo?
If you have impetigo in only a small area of your skin, topical antibiotics are the preferred treatment. Options include mupirocin cream or ointment (Bactroban or Centany) and retapamulin ointment (Altabax).
Can impetigo heal itself?
Untreated, impetigo often clears up on its own after a few days or weeks, Smith says. The key is to keep the infected area clean with soap and water and not to scratch it. The downside of not treating impetigo is that some people might develop more lesions that spread to other areas of their body.