HOW IS IMPETIGO DIAGNOSED?
Impetigo is fairly easy to diagnose and a GP (general practitioner, primary care physician) will do so after examining the affected area. The doctor will probably ask the patient (or parent) about any recent cuts, scrapes or insect bites to the affected area. The doctor will also try to find out whether it has come up on top of another skin condition, such as scabies.
Further tests may be ordered if:
Symptoms are very severe and have spread to many parts of the body.
The patient does not respond to treatment.
The infection keeps recurring.
The doctor will gently wipe a crusted area with a swab to see which germ is causing the impetigo and which antibiotic is most likely to help. A swab may also help determine whether another infection is present, such asringworm or shingles.
If the patient is getting recurrent episodes of impetigo the doctor may take a swab from the nose to determine whether the infective bacteria is harboring there.
