Parents often have to deal with rashes and skin irritations in toddlers and young kids. Usually, these aren?t a big deal?often the side effect of a cold or mild allergy. But sometimes they signal something contagious that needs to be taken seriously. Impetigo is one of those things. It?s a common skin infection that typically affects children aged two to five. ?It?s more common in younger children, from toddlers to five-year-olds,? says Sheilagh Maguiness, a paediatric dermatologist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ?Certainly, adults can get it, but they don?t seem to as much as children do.?
What causes impetigo"
Impetigo is usually caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria, and the symptoms are similar for both types. It typically appears as sores or blisters and tends to show up on exposed skin, such as the hands and face, but can also appear on the legs, diaper area and other exposed areas of the body. Children who have certain skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis (a form of eczema), are at higher risk of developing impetigo. They already have ?colonized? staph bacteria on their skin, which means that the bacteria is present in higher quantities but doesn?t cause an overt infection.
Symptoms of bullous and non-bullous impetigo
There are two main kinds of impetigo: bullous and non-bullous. Non-bullous impetigo (also known as impetigo contagiosa) is the most common?about 70 percent of cases?and the less severe of the two. It usually appears as skin redne...