Impetigo (redirected from School sores)

impetigo (ĭmpətī`gō), contagious skin infection affecting mainly infants and children. The causative organisms are either hemolytic streptococci or staphylococci. The eruption consists of small red spots or blisters that rupture, discharge, and become encrusted. The infection is easily spread over the skin by fingernails because of its symptomatic itching; it can also be spread by contaminated linen, clothing, or other objects. Effective treatment with antibiotic ointments usually relieves the infection within 10 days. Systemic treatment with antibiotics is sometimes necessary to prevent the nephritis that occasionally develops.

---

impetigo

Bacterial inflammatory skin disease, the most common skin infection in children. Initial blisters rupture, drying to a crust. Caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus, it is very contagious in newborns, becoming less so with age. Poor hygiene, crowding, and humid, hot weather may promote its spread. A broad-spectrum antibiotic applied to the blisters can treat simple impetigo; more extensive cases, especially in infants, may require a systemic antibiotic.

---

impetigo

a contagious bacterial skin disease characterized by the formation of pustules that develop into yellowish crusty sores

---

impetigo [‚im·pə′tī‚gō]

(medicine)

An acute, contagious, inflammatory skin disease caused by streptococcal or staphylococcal infections and characterized by vesicular or pustular lesions.

---

Impetigo 

an infectious skin disease caused by streptococci and staphylococci.

Impetigo is most often observed in children, sometimes in epidemic outbreaks at children’s institutions. It is manifested by pustular rashes. The nature of herpetiform impetigo, a special form of the disease with a herpes-like rash, has not been elucidated. Endocrine, toxic, and nervous origin have been conjectured. It appears most often in pregnant women (disappearing with the termination of pregnancy).