What should you know about impetigo from mosquito bites?

A mosquito bite usually produces an itchy bump. Repeated scratching can create tiny breaks that allow bacteria onto the surface and may lead to impetigo. The infected area can ooze, form a yellow-brown crust, feel sore, or spread beyond the first bite. A crust by itself does not prove impetigo; contact dermatitis, eczema, and other causes can also alter the skin.

Children may scratch during sleep, so check the area gently in the morning. Look at whether the rash is changing, rather than judging it from one photograph or one moment.

Clean the skin gently, dry it without rubbing, and cover an open sore with a fresh dressing. Wash hands after care and avoid shared towels, pillowcases, and clothing. Keep nails trimmed and use a cool compress to ease itch. A clinician may prescribe a topical antibiotic for a small area or oral antibiotics when infection is more widespread.

Use only products recommended for the person and the affected site. Read about Crusting Skin, Topical Antibiotic Therapy, or Antibiotics For Skin Infection for related guidance.

Arrange prompt care if the redness is enlarging, the skin becomes hot or painful, crusted sores multiply, or the person develops fever or swollen glands. Seek urgent help for infection near the eye, rapidly worsening swelling, severe pain, or a child who is unusually sleepy or difficult to wake. Breathing difficulty or facial swelling requires emergency help.

Ask: Is this an infected bite or another rash? Does the pattern fit impetigo? Should the bite itch and the infection be treated separately? How long should dressings and separate towels be used? What change would mean the treatment needs review?