What is impetigo?
Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that spreads easily, especially among children at school and daycare. It often starts around the nose and mouth, or where the skin is already broken from a scrape, bug bite or eczema.
Listed in Ontario’s minor ailments program as: Impetigo.
Common symptoms
- Red sores that break open and form honey-coloured crusts
- Usually around the nose, mouth, hands or arms
- Itchy, but not usually very painful
How a Kennedy pharmacist can help
Your pharmacist will look at the sores and check how widespread they are. For a small area, they may prescribe an antibiotic cream or ointment and show you how to gently clean off the crusts before each application.
We’ll also go over how to stop it spreading: keep the sores covered, keep nails short, wash hands often, and use separate towels.
If we think you’d be better served by a doctor, we’ll tell you, and help you figure out where to go.
Medicines a pharmacist may consider
- Fusidic acid cream or ointment (Fucidin)antibiotic cream
- Mupirocin ointmentantibiotic ointment
- Bacitracin and polymyxin B ointment (Polysporin), or gramicidin and polymyxin B cream (Polysporin cream)antibiotic combinations for small areas
Your pharmacist chooses based on your symptoms, age, pregnancy, allergies and other medications, so not every option is right for everyone. Brand names are examples. We often use the generic version, which works the same and usually costs less.
What it costs
The assessment is free with a valid Ontario health card. It’s paid for by the province, just like a visit to your doctor.
If you’re prescribed something, the medicine is paid for like any other prescription: through your drug plan, the Ontario Drug Benefit (65+ and other eligible people), OHIP+ (under 25 without a private plan), or out of pocket.
Good to know: Prescription antibiotic creams are covered by many drug plans, and by OHIP+ for kids and youth without a private plan.
No Ontario health card? Text or call us first and we’ll tell you the fee before we start.
When to see a doctor instead
See your family doctor, a walk-in clinic or a nurse practitioner if:
- The sores are spreading over a large area, or you have many of them
- There are deep, painful sores or blisters
- There’s a fever, or the person seems unwell
- It’s a baby under 2 months old
- It isn’t clearly better after 3 days of treatment
Not sure? Call Health811 (dial 811) any time to speak with a registered nurse, free.