Impetigo Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Lisa S Lewis, MD; Chief Editor: Russell W Steele, MD   more...
 
Updated: Oct 27, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Alternative diagnostic possibilities are key to consider in recurrent cases or those that do not respond quickly to treatment. Tinea is a very common and often missed mimic. Careful and full skin examination is required to rule out tinea as a cause of impetigo-like infection of the skin.[27, 28] Unlike impetigo, tinea almost never occurs on the upper lip.[29]

Herpetic impetigo also is a very common and often missed mimic. Viral culture is recommended in atopic patients, who are the high-risk group for this presentation. In particular, those patients with extensive eczema are most at risk and should be considered for this testing.[30]

Pemphigus vulgaris is rare in children. Pemphigus foliaceus is both a clinical and histologic mimic of impetigo and normally presents in adults. Folliculitis is a superficial hair follicle infection that produces little interfollicular change or erythema of the skin. This infection site is also rarely tender; if this diagnosis appears possible, the clinician should also consider pseudomonas folliculitis.

Follicular mucinosis can be especially similar to impetigo in clinical presentation, although often without crust. However, in the facial region, distinction between these 2 disorders is difficult without a biopsy.[31] Such mimicry emphasizes the need for early bacterial culture. Recalcitrant presentations may require fungal culture and biopsy. Furuncle is a deeper hair follicle infection with pus and small abscess. It is a more extreme version of folliculitis.

Erysipelas is a skin infection typically caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, as are many cases of nonbullous impetigo. However, erysipelas manifests as a sharply demarcated erythematous plaque caused by dermal inflammation.

Insect bites may resemble impetigo or may be a site for its development, emphasizing the need for a detailed history. Impetigo in an atypical location, such as the scalp, should warrant investigation for head lice.

Other problems to be considered in the differential diagnosis of nonbullous impetigo include the following:

  • Cutaneous candidiasis
  • Kerion
  • Inflammatory dermatophytosis
  • Dermatophytic Infections
  • Discoid lupus erythematosus
  • Sweet syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis)

Other problems to be considered in the differential diagnosis of bullous impetigo include the following:

  • Linear immunoglobulin A bullous dermatosis
  • Bullous pemphigoid reactions
  • Bullous lupus erythematosus
  • Bullous scabies
  • Dermatitis herpetiformis
  • Bullous-fixed drug reaction

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Lisa S Lewis, MD  Consulting Staff, Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Lisa S Lewis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Allan D Friedman, MD, MPH  Chairman, Division of General Pediatrics, VCUH Health System; Professor of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Allan D Friedman, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD  Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Sadegh Amini, MD Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Skin Research Group, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami

Sadegh Amini, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, International Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and International Society of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Anne E Burdick, MD, MPH Professor of Dermatology, Director of Leprosy Program, Associate Dean for TeleHealth and Clinical Outreach, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Anne E Burdick, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ivan D Camacho, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Leonard M Miller School of Medicine; Medical Director of Dermatology Clinic, Jackson Memorial

Ivan D Camacho, MD is amember of American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Florida Medical Association, International Society of Dermatology, and the Women's Dermatologic Society.

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Burke A Cunha, MD Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Joseph Domachowske, MD Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Joseph Domachowske, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pamela L Dyne, MD Professor of Clinical Medicine/Emergency Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Pamela L Dyne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dirk M Elston, MD Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Glenn J Fennelly, MD, MPH Director, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Jacobi Medical Center; Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Glenn J Fennelly, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eric M Kardon, MD, FACEP Attending Emergency Physician, Georgia Emergency Medicine Specialists; Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Athens Regional Medical Center

Eric M Kardon, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Paul Krusinski, MD Director of Dermatology, Fletcher Allen Health Care; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine

Paul Krusinski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Andrew C Miller, MD Fellow, Department of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Andrew C Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

James J Nordlund, MD Professor Emeritus, Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

James J Nordlund, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Sigma Xi, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rashid M Rashid, MD, PhD Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Morzak Research Initiative

Rashid M Rashid, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Council for Nail Disorders, Houston Dermatological Society, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John Ratz, MD, MBA Staff Dermatologist, Mohs Surgeon, Center for Dermatology and Skin Surgery, Inc

John Ratz, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American College of Physicians, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, International Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Gregory William Rutecki, MD Associate Professor, Program Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

Gregory William Rutecki, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, and Society of General Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark A Silverberg, MD, FACEP, MMB Assistant Professor, Assistant Residency Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, Kings County Hospital, University Hospital, State University of New York Downstate at Brooklyn

Mark A Silverberg, MD, FACEP, MMB is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Daniel B Ward Jr, MD Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina

Daniel B Ward Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and South Carolina Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eric L Weiss, MD, DTM&H Director of Stanford Travel Medicine, Medical Director of Stanford Lifeflight, Assistant Professor, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine

Eric L Weiss, MD, DTM&H is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Medical Association, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Southeastern Surgical Congress, Southern Association for Oncology, Southern Clinical Neurological Society, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Nonbullous impetigo with vesicles, pustules, and sharply demarcated regions of honey-colored crusts.
Bullous impetigo with circumscribed lesions with a thin collarette of scale.
Bullous impetigo on the buttocks. Courtesy of Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Dermatology.
Following dermabrasion, this patient developed nonbullous impetigo in the same area as several herpes simplex lesions.
A nummular eczema lesion on the knee, impetiginized with Staphylococcus aureus.
Nonbullous (crusted) impetigo resulting from a chigger bite infected by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
Nonbullous impetigo from an abrasion infected by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
Nonbullous impetigo secondary to group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
Streptococcal impetigo from an infected insect bite. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
Nonbullous impetigo resulting from an infected insect bite. See Media File 6 for a pure culture of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci from this lesion. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci pure culture from a lesion of nonbullous impetigo resulting from an infected insect bite. See Media File 5. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
Bullous impetigo caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
Superficial flaccid bullae of bullous impetigo caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
Peripheral collarettes of scale on the abdomen after rupture of bullae of bullous impetigo caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Courtesy of Professor David Taplin, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla.
 
 
 
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