By the character of the lesions, their growth, their superficial nature, their course, the absence of an inflammatory base and areola, the thin, yellowish, wafer-like crusts, and usually a history of contagion.
State the prognosis.
The effect of treatment is usually prompt. The disease, indeed, tends to spontaneous disappearance in two to four weeks; in exceptional instances, more especially in those cases in which itching is present, the excoriations or scratch-marks become inoculated, and in this way it may persist several weeks.
What is the treatment of impetigo contagiosa?
Treatment consists in the destruction of the auto-inoculable properties of the contents of the lesions; this is effected by removing the crusts by means of warm water-and-soap washings, and subsequently rubbing in an ointment of ammoniated mercury, ten to twenty grains to the ounce. Some cases respond more rapidly to the use of a drying ointment, such as Lassar's paste, with ten to twenty grains of white precipitate or sulphur to the ounce. In itching cases, a saturated solution of boric acid, or a carbolic-acid lotion, one to two drachms to the pint, is to be employed for general application.
Impetigo Herpetiformis.
Describe impetigo herpetiformis.
Impetigo herpetiformis is an extremely rare disease, observed usually in pregnant women, and is characterized by the appearance of numerous isolated and closely-crowded pin-head-sized superficial pustules, which show a decided disposition to the formation of circular groups or patches. The central portion of these groups dries to crusts, while new pustules appear at the peripheral portion. They tend to coalesce, and in this manner a greater part of the whole surface may, in the course of weeks or months, become involved. Profound constitutional disturbance, usually of a septic character, precedes and accompanies the disease; in almost every instance a fatal termination sooner or later results.
It is possibly a grave type of dermatitis herpetiformis.