The key difference between cellulitis and impetigo is that cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that affects children as well as adults equally, while impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that mainly affects infants and young children.
Some bacteria live on normal human skin and cause no harm. However, some bacteria invade the normal skin and broken skin (broken from eczema, dermatitis, or wounds). The symptoms of bacterial skin infections can vary from mild to life-threatening. Most bacterial skin infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Some common bacterial skin infections include cellulitis, impetigo, erysipelas, bacterial folliculitis, furuncles, carbuncles, erythrasma, and MRSA skin infection. Cellulitis and impetigo are two common bacterial skin infections.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cellulitis
3. What is Impetigo
4. Similarities – Cellulitis and Impetigo
5. Cellulitis vs Impetigo in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Cellulitis vs Impetigo
What is Cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that affects the two deepest layers of the skin: dermis and subcutaneous tissue. This skin infection often appears as a swollen, red area on the skin. The infected area feels tender and hot when it is touched. Cellulitis is usually seen on the lower legs’ skin. But it can also occur in the face, arms, and other areas. This bacterial skin infection occurs when a crack or break in the skin allows the bacteria to enter. Cellulitis is mainly caused by methicillin-resistant (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus, group A, B hemolytic Streptococcus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Figure 01: Cellulitis
The common symptoms of cellulitis may include redness, red streaks, swelling, warmth, pain, leaking of clear yellow fluid, high fever, nausea, vomiting, enlarging reddened areas, numbness in the affected area, etc. The risk factors for cellulitis include injury, weakened immunity, other skin conditions (eczema), lymphedema, history of cellulitis, and obesity. This condition is diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, X-ray, and laboratory cultures. Cellulitis is usually treated with antibiotics such as dicloxacillin and cephalexin, pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen), and surgery to drain the abscess.
What is Impetigo?
Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that mainly affects infants and young children. It is a bacterial infection that involves superficial skin. Impetigo is usually caused by either Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. The symptoms may include red sores around the nose and mouth, honey-colored crusts, itchiness, pain, sometimes large blisters around diaper areas, swollen glands, fever, and ecthyma (fluid-filled sores).
Figure 02: Impetigo
The risk factors include attending daycare, crowding, poor nutrition, diabetes mellitus, contact sports, skin breaks due to mosquito bites, eczema, scabies, or herpes. Moreover, the diagnosis is normally through physical examination. Impetigo is treated by applying antibiotics such as mupirocin directly on sores. Oral antibiotics such as cephalosporins, clindamycin, and sulmethoxazole can be prescribed in serious conditions.
What are the Similarities Between Cellulitis and Impetigo?
- Cellulitis and impetigo are two common bacterial skin infections.
- Both skin conditions can be caused due to gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes.
- Both skin conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination.
- These skin conditions are treated by using specific antibiotics.
What is the Difference Between Cellulitis and Impetigo?
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that affects children as well as adults equally, while impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that mainly affects infants and young children. Thus, this is the key difference between cellulitis and impetigo. Furthermore, cellulitis is not a contagious bacterial skin infection, while impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection.
The below infographic presents the differences between cellulitis and impetigo in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Cellulitis vs Impetigo
Cellulitis and impetigo are two common bacterial skin infections. Both medical conditions are caused by gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that affects children as well as adults equally, while impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that mainly affects infants and young children. So, this is the key difference between cellulitis and impetigo.
Reference:
1. Normandin, Bree. “Cellulitis: Causes, Treatments, Symptoms, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 29 Sept. 2021.
2. “Impetigo.” NHS Choices, NHS.
Image Courtesy:
1. “OSC Microbio 21 02 impetigo” By CNX OpenStax – (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Cellulitis of foot 01” By cbinrva – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia