Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that usually produces blisters or sores on the face and hands. This disease is mostly found among children.

Symptoms
This disease affects skin anywhere on the body but mostly occurs around the nose and mouth, forearms, and hands. It starts as tiny blisters and eventually leaves red wet patches on the skin that oozes fluid. Slowly, they turn into yellowish brown covering. Impetigo is contagious disease and can spread through infected skin or other items such as clothes, hands, towels, utensils etc.

Causes
This disease is caused by group A bacteria called streptococcus. It is caused mostly to school age children who are already been affected by other skin problems such as insect bite, eczema and allergies. It generally spreads in summer season.

Treatment

Good hygiene can prevent impetigo. It can be cured with anti-biotic ointment at earlier stage of this disease. In case the whole body is infected or the anti-biotic ointment doesn’t work, then the doctor may also prescribe anti-biotic pills or syrup. Once the treatment begins one should be careful to take the medicines on time as prescribe by the doctor if it is ignored a deep skin or blood infection could develop.

Anti-septic soap may also be useful while the infection is healing. To avoid spreading impetigo to other parts of the body, the patient should cover the infected area of skin with bandage or a tape. Fingernails should be kept short and clean.