Impetigo

Introduction

Impetigo is a type of an infectious disease which is commonly found in infants and children of school going ages. This is a bacterial disease and commonly occurs due to infections caused by streptococcus or staphylococcus species of bacteria.

The area of infections is usually the skin on the face, affecting the mouth and the nose of the infected child. General form of the disease is the appearance of red blotches on the surface of the skin and is usually spread by contact. It is a disease that usually occurs in warm and humid environment and is not life threatening. However, complications might occur if it is not treated within a certain period of time.

Discussion

Impetigo is a common infectious disease of the skin that is spread by close skin contact. It is a bacterial infection and is therefore, treated by antibiotics. Its general occurrence is in small children, usually infants and school going age groups.

Causative Agent of Impetigo

Impetigo is a bacterial infection spread by two different strains of bacteria. Streptococcus aureus and staphylococcus pyogenes. It is also considered that MRSA (Methicillin-resistant staph.aureus) is also a source of infection. (Pasternak MS, 2009)

The infection is cause by the colonization of these bacterial species in lesions or cuts present on the epithelial surface. The disease is spread by scratching the affected area, varicella, bites of insects or surgery etc. it is also possible that the infection might occur on a skin where no cuts or lesions are visible.

Types of impetigo

There are basically two types of impetigo.

Bullous impetigo

Non- bullous impetigo

Bullous impetigo is characterized by the appearance of very large, pus filled blisters which are painful in nature. It usually occurs in children with an age group of less than two years. The area of occurance is usually the arms and the body surface ...