Infantigo, also called impetigo, is a contagious skin infection that generally consists of red pus-filled sores on the face and around the nose and mouth, according to MayoClinic.com. It primarily arises in infants and children, but adolescents and adults can also contract the infection. Infantigo typically occurs when bacteria that live on the surface of the skin enter the body through cuts, bites or injury. The exact cause of infantigo varies, but people who come in direct contact with an infected person or item have an increased chance of contracting the infection.
Skin Injuries
People who have a skin injury are susceptible to developing infantigo, according to Medline Plus. A variety of bacteria such as streptococcus and staphylococcus, reside on the surface of the skin. Most of the time bacteria are harmless, but when skin is injured or broken bacteria can enter the wound, multiply and spread throughout the body causing infection and inflammation. Animal or human bites, injury or skin damage are some of the ways that the infection can enter the body. MayoClinic.com states that adults typically develop the infection due to an underlying skin disorder, while children tend to contract the infection as result of a cut, scrape or insect bite, although some children may become infected with no noticeable damage to the skin.
Skin Disorders and Respiratory Infections
Some adults may contract infantigo following a skin disorder or respiratory infection, according to the website Discovery Health. Skin disorders such as dermatitis that consist of open sores or blisters on the surface of the skin are particularly vulnerable to the infantigo infection. This infection can occur when the bacteria that resides on the surface of the skin enters the body through the sores, multiples and spreads to various parts of the body. People who have recently gotten over a respiratory infection such as a cold are also extremely susceptible to infantigo due to the highly contagious nature of the infection and a weakened immune system.
Direct Contact
A common cause of infantigo is direct contact with the infection. The fluid associated with the infantigo infection is highly contagious and can be easily spread through skin-to-skin or skin-to-infected surface contact, according to the website OmniMedicalResearch.com. People can contract infantigo through broken skin after touching an infected wound or handling an infected item such as clothing, bed linen, towels or toys.
