How to Diagnose Impetigo

Impetigo is a bacterial infection contracted by touching someone with the infection or touching something they touched. Towels, blankets and other material the impetigo patient touched should be washed in hot water and avoided. The condition is highly contagious and precautions should be taken. A doctor can easily diagnose impetigo, but here are a few things you can look for.

Instructions

1. Look for sores, usually around the nose or mouth, and other areas depending on the type of impetigo. Impetigo usually gets into the body from an already open wound or scratch. Scratching from eczema is a common way for impetigo to enter into the body. Look in the infected area and around the nose and mouth for either small red sores or the more advanced blisters that will soon burst.

2. Watch for itchy skin. Impetigo can be itchy. It is not an indicator that the sore is definitely impetigo, but it is a common side effect of the bacterial infection of impetigo.

3. Look for oozing of the sores. The ooze will crust up and look like brown sugar or honey when the skin infection is impetigo. Don't touch the sores with your hands because it is highly contagious. Wash the sores with a wash cloth set aside for the patient.

4. Take your child to a doctor and have him diagnose the impetigo. The doctor can usually just look at the skin irritation and determine whether it is impetigo or another common skin condition. The doctor can also remove a piece of the sore to have tests run on it at a laboratory.

Tips & Warnings

• Sizes vary so don't use this as an indicator of impetigo.