Hand, foot, and mouth disease, by definition, appears frequently on the palm, soles, and inside the mouth, while impetigo does not show up in the mouth. Sounds straightforward, but Vikash S. Oza, MD , a pediatric dermatologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City, says that recent strains of hand, foot, and mouth appear outside of the mouth instead of inside, making it appear more like impetigo.
Be on the lookout for other symptoms: Hand, foot, and mouth disease is oftentimes accompanied by fever, loss of appetite, irritability, and sore throat , while impetigo in the early stages is strictly a skin condition. Often, your healthcare provider will identify impetigo simply by looking at the skin. But Dr. He or she will test the sample in the lab to determine the type of bacteria causing the issue. Impetigo is most common among children or teenagers who engage in high-contact sports like wrestling, says Suzanne Friedler, MD , a board-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
But adults can get impetigo as well. Impetigo is caused by bacteria, either streptococcus the cause of strep throat or staphylococcus which causes staph infections. Impetigo is more common in the warmer months, when children are playing outside and rubbing against other children and getting bug bites , says Charles Shubin, MD , a pediatrician with Mercy Family Care Physicians in Baltimore.
For a mild case, doctors will likely prescribe a topical antibiotic that is applied directly to the skin. For more widespread cases, oral antibiotics may be necessary. Bullous impetigo, the less common type, is marked by fluid-filled blisters on the arms, legs, or area between the neck and the waist. Impetigo will go away within a few weeks on its own.
Yes, impetigo is contagious. A GP can take a swab from around your nose to check for the bacteria that causes impetigo. They might prescribe an antiseptic nasal cream to try to clear the bacteria and stop the impetigo coming back. Do not stop using the antibiotic cream or tablets early, even if the impetigo starts to clear up.
Impetigo can easily spread to other parts of your body or to other people until it stops being contagious. To help stop impetigo spreading or getting worse while it's still contagious:. To avoid spreading the infection to other areas of your body and to other people:.
Page last reviewed: 18 March Next review due: 18 March Check if you have impetigo Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, but the redness may be harder to see in brown and black skin. If you do touch the area, be sure to wash your hands right away. Your mom or dad can help you apply the ointment or take the medicine your doctor prescribed.
Your parent also can help you gently wash the infected areas with mild soap and water, using a piece of clean gauze. If a sore is very crusted, you can soak it in warm, soapy water to loosen the crust.
You don't have to get it all off, but try to keep it clean. Your parent also might help you cover the sores with gauze and tape or a loose plastic bandage. Impetigo is contagious, which means that you could spread it to other people. That's why people with impetigo should keep the sores covered when they go to school or other public places.
After you take the medicine for least 24 hours, the impetigo isn't contagious anymore. After 3 days, the sores should begin to heal. Your mom or dad should call the doctor if you develop a fever or if you don't get better after taking the medicine for a few days.
Your parent should call the doctor right away if skin around the impetigo sore becomes red, warm, swollen, or painful if you touch it. If someone in your family or a friend has impetigo, don't touch that person's skin. Also steer clear of his or her clothes, towels, sheets, and pillows. The bacteria that cause impetigo can live on all these things. Your parent should wash these items in very hot water.
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