What is the Difference Between Cellulitis and Impetigo?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Cellulitis and impetigo are both common skin infections, but they differ in their characteristics, causes, and effects on the skin.
Cellulitis:
- Affects the skin and the soft tissue below it, typically caused by streptococcus or staphylococcus bacteria entering through a crack or break in the skin.
- Occurs in the deeper subcutaneous tissues, resulting in a pinkish hue with less defined edges.
- Local signs of inflammation, such as warmth, erythema, and pain, are usually present.
- Systematic symptoms like fever, chills, and malaise may also be present.
- Diagnosis is usually made clinically, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) does not recommend routine collection of cultures.
Impetigo:
- A highly contagious skin infection caused by bacteria, primarily strep or staph, infecting the skin through a break like a cut, insect bite, or bodily injury.
- Involves the outer keratin layer of the skin, resulting in crusty lesions.
- Commonly seen in children aged two to five years and is classified as bullous or nonbullous.
- The nonbullous type presents with an erosion (sore), cluster of erosions, or small vesicles or pustules that have an adherent or oozing honey-yellow crust.
In summary, cellulitis is a deeper infection affecting the skin and soft tissue, while impetigo is a more superficial, contagious infection that results in crusty lesions. The two conditions are caused by different bacteria and have distinct clinical presentations.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Cellulitis and Impetigo? Comparative Table: Cellulitis vs Impetigo
Comparative Table: Cellulitis vs Impetigo
Cellulitis and impetigo are both bacterial skin infections, but they have some key differences. Here's a table summarizing the differences between the two:
Feature | Cellulitis | Impetigo |
---|---|---|
Affected Population | Affects children and adults equally | Mainly affects infants and young children |
Contagiousness | Not contagious | Highly contagious |
Causative Bacteria | Often caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes | Usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, or a combination of both |
Symptoms | Painful, erythematous infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues characterized by warmth, edema, and advancing borders | Presents with an erosion, cluster of erosions, or small vesicles or pustules that have an adherent or oozing honey-yellow crust |
Treatment | Antibiotics are typically used to treat cellulitis | Antibiotics can shorten an impetigo infection and keep it from spreading to others |
Both infections are caused by gram-positive bacteria and can be diagnosed through physical examination.
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