Is Impetigo Contagious?

Contagion summary:

Infectious by direct contact with blisters; also nasal infection; also from bedding, towels or clothing.

Contagiousness properties for Impetigo:

  Contagious by physical contact (non-sexual)?: Yes

  Contagious by touch?: Yes

  Contagious from bedding?: Yes

  Contagious from clothing?: Yes

  Contagious from towels?: Yes

Contagion summary:

The infection is spread by direct contact with lesions or with nasal carriers. The incubation period is 1-3 days. Dried streptococci in the air are not infectious to intact skin. (Source: excerpt from Group A Streptococcal Infections, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

About contagion and contagiousness:

Contagion and contagiousness refers to how easily the spread of Impetigo is possible from one person to another. Other words for contagion include "infection", "infectiousness", "transmission" or "transmissability". Contagiousness has nothing to do with genetics or inheriting diseases from parents. For an overview of contagion, see Introduction to Contagion.

 » Next page: Treatments for Impetigo

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