Impetigos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A highly contagious bacterial infection characterized by the formation of pustules and sores on the skin; often prevalent in children and can cause irritation and discomfort; treatment typically involves antibiotic ointments or oral medications to clear the infection
2. A skin disorder caused by bacteria that leads to blisters and crusty sores, commonly affecting young children; it spreads easily through direct contact or contaminated items; effective treatment can expedite healing and prevent complications
3. An infectious condition primarily seen in children that results in red sores, often around the nose and mouth; it is transmitted through skin contact and may require medical intervention to resolve; controlling hygiene practices can reduce spread

Etymology: "Impetigos" is the plural of "impetigo," though English writers rarely need the plural, and Latin would form it as "impetigines." The noun comes from Latin "impetigo," a term for a skin eruption or scab, which probably derives from "impetere," meaning "to attack" or "to fall upon," with the sense of a rash that seems to break out onto the skin. The Latin word was used for various skin eruptions, and English took it in a medical sense, though the exact date of its first recorded use is uncertain. Its modern meaning narrowed to the contagious bacterial infection described in the definition, a distinction physicians made only as skin diseases were classified more precisely.