Impetigo

When To Call A Professional

If you think you or your child might have impetigo, contact a doctor, especially if either of you has been exposed to someone else with the condition. If impetigo is not treated, it can spread rapidly.

If you or your child is being treated for impetigo, contact the doctor if a fever develops or if an area becomes enlarged or red.

Prognosis

Impetigo should heal without scarring, as long as the child doesn't pick the bumps and blisters. Infants are more likely to develop complications of impetigo, such as inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonephritis) and infection of the blood (bacteremia).

Additional Info

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 141 Northwest Point Blvd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098 Phone: (847) 434-4000 Fax: (847) 434-8000 http://www.aap.org/

American Medical Association (AMA) 515 North State St. Chicago, IL 60610 http://www.ama-assn.org/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1600 Clifton Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30333 Phone: (404) 639-3534 Toll-Free: (800) 311-3435 http://www.cdc.gov/