IMPETIGO, DESCRIPTION, ETIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, PROGNOSIS AND COMPLICATIONS

Introduction: Impetigo is a common infection of the superficial layers of the epidermis that is highly contagious and usually originated by gram-positive bacteria, this disease manifests with the presence of erythematous plaques with a yellow crust, which may become itchy or painful. Diagnosis is usually based on signs and symptoms alone. Treatment involves topical and oral antibiotics and symptomatic care. Objective: to detail current information related to impetigo, description, etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, evaluation, differential diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and complications. Methodology: a total of 37 articles were analyzed in this review, including review and original articles, as well as clinical cases, of which 28 bibliographies were used because the other articles were not relevant to this study. The sources of information were PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane; the terms used to search for information in Spanish, Portuguese and English were: impetigo, cutaneous bacterial infection, S. aureus, streptococcal, bullous impetigo. Results: Impetigo accounts for approximately 10% of skin complaints in the pediatric population and the main pathogens involved include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. There are two common variants of impetigo: non-blistering (70%) and blistering (30%)Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) is one of the most important bacterial causes of skin and soft tissue infections (STBI) worldwide. Impetigo is a non-life-threatening infection, but can lead to acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Conclusions: Impetigo is a common disease in early life, especially in warm and humid climates. The infection can be blistering or non-blistering and is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The infection usually affects the face, but can occur anywhere else on the body with a laceration, abrasion, insect bite, or other trauma. History and physical examination are paramount for diagnosis, which is usually based on symptoms and clinical manifestations alone. Treatment strategies for impetigo differ, depending on whether the condition is localized or generalized, as well as resistance patterns to the causative agents and current guidelines. Topical antibiotics alone or in combination with systemic antibiotics are most frequently used for treatment. The prognosis is usually good and complications are rare. KEY WORDS: impetigo, S. aureus, blistering, cutaneous, skin.