Impetigo

A strep skin infection caused by the staphylococcus or, more rarely, streptococcus bacteria. The first sign of impetigo is a patch of red, itchy skin. Pustules develop on this area, soon forming crusty, yellow-brown sores that can spread to cover entire areas of the face, arms, and other body parts. Most

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A contagious superficial pyoderma, caused by Staphylococcus aureus and/or group A streptococci, that begins with a superficial flaccid vesicle that ruptures and forms a thick yellowish crust, most commonly occurring in children. SYN: i. contagiosa, i. vulgaris. [L. a scabby eruption, fr. im-peto (inp-), to rush upon, attack]

- Bockhart i. SYN: follicular i..

- i. bullosa i. with lesions of large size, forming bullae.

- bullous i. of newborn usually, widely disseminated bullous lesions appearing soon after birth, caused by infection with Staphylococcus aureus. SYN: i. neonatorum (2), pemphigus gangrenosus (2).

- i. circinata a ringlike configuration of bullous lesions of i. formed by confluence of several bullae or by the rupture of a single lesion with crusting of the periphery.

- i. contagiosa SYN: i..

- i. contagiosa bullosa discrete purulent skin lesions occasionally seen with streptococcal pyoderma.

- follicular i. a superficial follicular pustular eruption involving the scalp or other hairy area. SYN: Bockhart i..

- i. herpetiformis a rare pyoderma, which may be related to pustular psoriasis, occurring most commonly in pregnant women in the third trimester as an eruption of small, closely aggregated pustules developing upon an inflammatory base and accompanied by severe constitutional symptoms and fetal death; recurs with subsequent pregnancy.

- i. neonatorum 1. SYN: dermatitis exfoliativa infantum. 2. SYN: bullous i. of newborn.

- i. vulgaris SYN: i..

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im·pe·ti·go .im-pə-'tē-(.)gō, -'tī- n an acute contagious staphylococcal or streptococcal skin disease characterized by vesicles, pustules, and yellowish crusts

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n.

a superficial bacterial infection of the skin. Nonbullous impetigo is caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, or both organisms; it mainly affects young children and is highly contagious, with yellowish-brown crusting. Bullous impetigo is caused by Staph. aureus; it is characterized by blisters, is less contagious than the nonbullous form, and occurs at any age. Treatment of impetigo is with topical antibiotics; <

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im·pe·ti·go (im″pə-tiґgo) [L.] a contagious pyoderma, caused by direct inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus or occasionally a group A streptococcus into superficial cutaneous abrasions or compromised skin, usually on the face or a limb. Two main types are distinguished, bullous impetigo and nonbullous impetigo. impetiginous adj