skin disorders
Impetigo and Ecthyma
Symptoms of Impetigo and Ecthyma
Impetigo and ecthyma are itchy and slightly painful. The itching often leads to extensive scratching, particularly in children, which serves to spread the infection. Impetigotypically causes clusters of tiny blisters that rupture and develop a honey-colored crust over the sores (ulcers). Bullous impetigo is similar except that the sores typically enlarge rapidly to form larger blisters. The blisters may appear as a red patch before forming larger blisters. They then burst and expose raw skin, which becomes covered with honey-colored crust. In impetigo, clusters of sores rupture and develop a honey-colored crust. Image courtesy of Thomas Habif, MD. This child with impetigo has clusters of scabby, yellow-crusted sores. DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY This photo shows bullous impetigo on an infant's abdomen. The infection begins as a red patch, which develops into small pus-filled spots that join together, eventually forming yellow blisters (bullae) that break open and form crusty scabs. SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Ecthymais a form of impetigo. It is characterized by small, shallow ulcers that have a punched-out appearance and sometimes contain pus. The crust that covers the ulcers is thicker than the crust caused by impetigo. It is brown-black in color. The area around the ulcers is typically purplish red and swollen. 