Disease
Impetigo
Superficial crusting skin infection of children
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High-yield clue
Golden honey-colored crusts around the nose and mouth in a child is the classic impetigo clue.
Overview
A superficial, highly contagious bacterial skin infection most common in young children, studied for its classic honey-colored crusts. It matters as a recognizable, spreadable skin syndrome tied to Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.
Classification
- Superficial skin syndrome
- Non-bullous (crusted) vs bullous forms
- Pediatric-predominant
- Highly contagious framing
Lab & identification clues
- Honey-colored crusted erosions vocabulary
- Bullous form linked to Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative toxin
- Superficial (above basement membrane) description
- Spread by direct contact and fomites concept
Associations
- Direct-contact and autoinoculation transmission
- Warm, humid climates and crowding framing
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis as a rare sequela
- At-risk group: preschool and school-age children
Commonly confused with
- Cellulitis
- Herpes simplex / eczema
Your notes
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.