Question 1

what causes impetigo?

Accepted Answer

A skin infection: Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection.  It is usually caused by either streptococcal and/or staphylococcal bacteria.  It can be treated with an oral antibiotic or a topical antibiotic like muciporcin.

Question 2

can impetigo be cured?

Accepted Answer

Impetigo: Impetigo is normally, very easy to treat.  A topical antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics will treat the infection.

Question 3

how serious is impetigo?

Accepted Answer

Minor infection: But should be treated to keep it from spreading, and because it usually won't resolve without antibiotics.

Question 4

how does impetigo spread?

Accepted Answer

Direct contact: Impetigo spreads by direct skin to skin contact.

Question 5

how can you get impetigo?

Accepted Answer

See below: Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the skin, most commonly acquired from direct skin-to-skin contact, especially in children.

Question 6

how is impetigo diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Appearance, culture: It often is obvious, but though many experts do not reccommend culture, often one is needed to see of the diagnosis is correct, and what bacteria, staph, strep or both is responsible, and what antibiotics will be effective.

Question 7

how do you catch impetigo?

Accepted Answer

Germs get into skin: Impetigo appears after germs get access to the deeper layers of the skin surface. Often a kid with contaminated fingers will scratch a bite or itchy place & open the deeper skin layers where the germs can live off the moisture & serum oozing into the scratch. The   germs often produce chemicals that get into the skin & spread redness & germ growth.Some germs are more likely than others to cause it.

Question 8

where does impetigo start?

Accepted Answer

Nose,throat ,skin: Impetigo is caused by the group a streptococcus bacteria. The same bacteria that causes strep throat. The bacteria can spread through contact of mucus from an infected person's nose/throat, or infected wounds. Some people can carry this bacteria in their throat with no symptoms.

Question 9

how can i treat my impetigo?

Accepted Answer

OTC: If you truly have impetigo, you can treat the infection with Bacitracin or neosporin ointment 3 times a day.

Question 10

can impetigo last for weeks?

Accepted Answer

Yes,: if inappropriately treated, or not treated at all!

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