Impetigo

Description

• Contagious, superficial bacterial skin infection
• Nonbullous and bullous forms
• May complicate chickenpox, eczema, and other skin disorders marked by open lesions
• Most commonly appears on face, arms, and legs

Pathophysiology

Nonbullous impetigo

• Eruption occurs when bacteria inoculate traumatized skin cells.
• Lesions begin as small vesicles, which rapidly erode.
• Honey-colored crusts are surrounded by erythema.

Bullous impetigo

• Eruption occurs in nontraumatized skin via bacterial toxin or exotoxin.
• Lesions begin as thin-walled bullae and vesicles.
• Lesions contain clear to turbid yellow fluid; some crusting exists. (See Recognizing impetigo.)

Focus in

Recognizing impetigo

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Related posts:

1. Allergic rhinitis
2. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
3. Tricuspid atresia
4. Pulse oximetry

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Join

Full access? Get Clinical Tree