What is it?
Impetigo is a mild infection of the skin.  It is caused by bacteria, commonly "strep" and/or "staph".  Impetigo appears as reddish lesions that become oozing and crusty.  Lesions may also be itchy.  Impetigo develops on injured skin that is not kept clean and dry.  It commonly occurs around the nose and mouth after a cold, in the diaper area, on cuts and insect bites.

How is it Spread?
Impetigo can spread to other areas on the person's body and to other people.  It is spread by touching or scratching the lesions and then touching other skin.  It can also be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact between people and sharing contaminated clothes.

When is it Contagious?
Impetigo is contagious as long as the sores are oozing and moist.  After exposure, it can take 4-10 days for another person to develop the infection.

How is it Diagnosed and Treated?
Impetigo is diagnosed by the typical symptoms.  It is commonly treated with oral antibiotic medication and/or ointment, and careful washing with soap and water.  It typically heals within 1-3 weeks.

Should the Child Stay Home?
A child with impetigo should stay home until 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment.

How Can We Limit the Spread?

• Keep the lesions clean and dry.  Avoid touching the lesions except to clean them.
• Wash hands - child's and caregiver's - after contact with the lesions.
• Do not share clothes, towels or bedding.
• Separate personal clothes (e.g., jackets) and bedding in individual cubbies for each child.

Information provided on this page is not intended to provide medical advice or take the place of medical treatment.  The recommendations do not indicate a course of treatment or medical care.

These are guidelines to develop policies and procedures for preventing, recognizing and managing communicable disease in child care.  If the children in your care have been exposed to this disease, you may copy this exposure notice and hand out to your day care parents.

This Exposure Notice has been copied from "Keeping Kids Healthy, Preventing and Managing Communicable Disease in Child Care", a project of the The Center for Health Training funded by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division.