Quick read
Key points
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Impetigo is a common, highly contagious bacterial skin infection, most often affecting children, causing red sores that quickly develop into blisters, then burst and form a distinctive golden-yellow crust, typically around the nose and mouth. It spreads easily through direct contact or shared items like towels.
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Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
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You suspect impetigo based on the characteristic appearance
01 · Know
What is Impetigo?
Impetigo is a common, highly contagious bacterial skin infection, most often affecting children, causing red sores that quickly develop into blisters, then burst and form a distinctive golden-yellow crust, typically around the nose and mouth. It spreads easily through direct contact or shared items like towels.
Impetigo is usually treated effectively with a topical or oral antibiotic, and most people notice improvement within a few days of starting treatment. Keeping affected areas clean and avoiding close contact with others helps prevent it from spreading.
02 · Understand
Clinical context
The golden crust is a distinctive, recognisable feature
The characteristic golden-yellow, honey-coloured crust that forms as impetigo blisters burst is a distinctive feature that usually makes the diagnosis fairly straightforward.
03 · Act
When to See a Doctor
- 1You suspect impetigo based on the characteristic appearance
- 2The infection is spreading or not improving with treatment
- 3Your child has a fever alongside the skin infection
- 4The infection recurs frequently
04 · Prevent & manage
Practical steps
Keep Your Child Home Until 48 Hours After Starting Treatment
Impetigo is contagious until treatment has been underway for about 48 hours, or until the sores have crusted over and dried, so keeping your child home from school or childcare during this time helps prevent spreading it to others.
- 1Use antibiotic treatment as prescribed.This is usually a topical cream for mild cases, or oral antibiotics for more widespread infection.
- 2Keep the affected area clean.Gently washing with soap and water and patting dry helps manage the infection.
- 3Avoid sharing towels, flannels, or bedding.This reduces the risk of spreading the infection to others in the household.
- 4Keep nails short and discourage scratching.This reduces the risk of spreading the infection to other areas or to other people.
- 5Keep your child home until no longer contagious.This is usually 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
Evidence
References
BarnMD Health Intelligence uses authoritative and clinically relevant sources appropriate to the topic. References are shown so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
- HSE: Impetigo ↗
Medical information notice
Health education, not individual medical advice
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
BarnMD Bottom Line
Impetigo is common, highly contagious, and responds well to antibiotic treatment, usually clearing within about a week.
Keep your child home from school or childcare until 48 hours after starting treatment to avoid spreading the infection.