Impetigo (“School Sores”) in Grand Rapids, MI

Impetigo is a common, highly contagious skin infection caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria. It’s often called “school sores” because it most frequently affects preschool and school‑aged children.

In the Grand Rapids area, impetigo is regularly seen in pediatric clinics, urgent care centers, and primary care practices at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health.

Impetigo in Michigan’s Climate

More common in warmer months

Impetigo occurs year‑round in West Michigan, but it’s more common during the warmer months, especially:

  • Late spring and summer, when kids are outdoors, sweating, and getting more minor cuts and scrapes
  • Early fall, when children return to school and daycare in Grand Rapids and infections spread more easily in close contact settings

The bacteria that cause impetigo can live harmlessly on:

  • The skin surface
  • Inside the nose
  • Around the mouth

Normally, this doesn’t cause problems. However, when the skin barrier is broken, bacteria can enter and cause infection.

How impetigo starts

Impetigo can develop when bacteria enter through:

  • Cuts, scrapes, or insect bites
  • Areas of eczema or other rashes
  • Chapped or cracked skin from Michigan’s cold, dry winters
  • Healthy, intact skin (less common, but possible)

Children in Grand Rapids who play contact sports, attend daycare, or share towels and sports equipment may be at higher risk.

What Impetigo Looks and Feels Like

Typical appearance

Impetigo is characterized by:

  • Small red spots or blisters, often around the nose and mouth, but also on the arms, legs, or trunk
  • Blisters that pop and weep a yellow, sticky fluid
  • Development of a golden‑yellow, “honey‑colored” crust
  • A raised, wet‑looking area that later dries and forms a scab
  • Itching and mild soreness

The rash can look unsightly, but in most healthy children it:

  • Is not dangerous, and
  • Usually does not cause permanent scarring when treated promptly

Symptoms of more extensive or severe infection

If larger areas of skin are involved, symptoms can include:

  • General feeling of being unwell (malaise)
  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph nodes (for example, in the neck or groin)

These symptoms are a reason to contact your child’s doctor or an urgent care clinic in Grand Rapids right away.

How Contagious Is Impetigo?

A highly contagious skin infection

Impetigo is very contagious, especially when:

  • Blisters are open and weeping
  • Crusts are moist and not covered
  • Children are scratching the sores

The bacteria can spread:

  • From one area of the body to another (via fingers and fingernails)
  • To other children and adults through direct skin contact
  • Through shared items such as towels, washcloths, bedding, clothing, sports gear, or toys

Incubation period

The incubation period (time from exposure to symptoms) is usually:

  • 1–3 days for streptococcal infections
  • 4–10 days for staphylococcal infections

This means a child in a Grand Rapids classroom or daycare can be exposed and not show signs for several days.

School and Daycare in Grand Rapids

Because impetigo spreads so easily:

  • A child with impetigo should be kept home from school or daycare in Grand Rapids until:
    • Appropriate treatment has started, and
    • Any sores on exposed areas are covered with a waterproof, occlusive dressing

Sometimes a crepe bandage is used to help keep dressings in place or to reduce scratching, especially in younger children.

Check with your child’s school, daycare, or the Kent County Health Department for local policies on return to group care after impetigo.

Diagnosis of Impetigo

In most cases, a healthcare provider in Grand Rapids can diagnose impetigo by examining the skin.

Your child’s doctor may:

  • Look closely at the rash and crusts
  • Ask about recent illness, skin injuries, and exposure to others with skin infections
  • Take a swab from a blister or crust to:
    • Confirm the diagnosis
    • Identify the exact bacteria
    • Help choose the best antibiotic, especially if the infection is not improving

You can seek diagnosis and treatment at:

  • Your pediatrician or family doctor
  • Urgent care centers affiliated with Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Community clinics and walk‑in centers in the Grand Rapids area

Treatment of Impetigo in Grand Rapids

Topical (skin) antibiotics

For mild to moderate impetigo, the main treatment is often a prescription antibiotic ointment or cream, applied directly to the sores.

  • The medicine is usually applied several times a day
  • Treatment is continued until the sores have completely healed, not just until they start to look better

Oral antibiotics

Your child’s doctor may prescribe antibiotic syrup or tablets if:

  • A large area of skin is affected
  • The infection is deep or spreading
  • There are signs of more serious infection (fever, swollen glands, feeling very unwell)
  • Topical treatment alone is not enough

Complete the full course

It is very important to:

  • Complete the entire course of antibiotics, even if the skin looks better early
  • Follow your doctor’s instructions on how often and how long to use creams or ointments

Stopping treatment too soon increases the risk that:

  • The infection will come back
  • Bacteria will become harder to treat in the future

Home Care for Impetigo

Good home care helps:

  • Speed healing
  • Reduce itching and discomfort
  • Prevent spread to other family members

Cleaning the sores

Suggestions for home care include:

  • Wash the sores with a mild antibacterial or antiseptic soap every 8–12 hours
  • Soak off visible crusts gently with warm water and a clean washcloth
  • After washing, pat the area dry with a clean towel (do not rub)

Always:

  • Use a clean towel each time
  • Do not share towels or washcloths between family members

Covering the sores

To reduce the risk of spread:

  • Apply a waterproof, occlusive dressing that completely covers and seals the affected area when possible
  • Use a crepe bandage if needed to:
    • Hold the dressing in place
    • Help prevent younger children from scratching the sores

Change dressings as directed by your doctor or whenever they become wet or soiled.

Household hygiene

While the infection is present:

  • Change the child’s linen daily:
    • Towels
    • Sheets
    • Pillowcases
    • Sleepwear
  • Wash the child’s clothes, towels, and bedding in hot water
  • Wash all household linens in hot water if there is concern about spread

Preventing the Spread of Impetigo in Your Home

Because impetigo blisters and crusts are filled with bacteria, careful hygiene is essential.

Hand hygiene

To reduce transmission:

  • Encourage everyone in the household to wash hands frequently with soap and water
  • Dry hands completely with a clean towel or disposable paper towel
  • Always wash your hands before and after touching sores, scabs, or dressings

Nail care and scratching

  • Keep your child’s fingernails trimmed short
  • Encourage them not to scratch scabs or pick their nose
  • Remind them to avoid touching or picking at the sores to prevent spreading the infection

Personal items

  • Make sure each child uses their own towel and face cloth
  • Avoid sharing:
    • Washcloths
    • Razors
    • Clothing
    • Sports gear and helmets that touch the face

Handling dressings

  • Dispose of used dressings promptly:
    • Place them in a plastic bag
    • Tie or seal the bag
    • Put it in the household trash
  • Wash and dry your hands thoroughly after handling dressings

Impetigo and Newborns

Impetigo can be dangerous for newborns, especially in the first weeks of life, because:

  • Their immune systems are not fully developed
  • They may not be able to contain the infection

If someone in your home has impetigo:

  • Keep them well away from young babies and newborns
  • Do not allow the infected person to kiss or cuddle the baby until cleared by a doctor
  • Practice strict hand hygiene before going near the baby

Without prompt treatment, a severe case of impetigo can, in rare cases, become a serious threat to a newborn’s health. Seek immediate medical care at a Grand Rapids emergency department or urgent care if a baby develops:

  • Blisters or sores on the skin
  • Fever or poor feeding
  • Unusual sleepiness or irritability

When to See a Doctor in Grand Rapids

Contact your doctor, pediatrician, or an urgent care clinic if:

  • The sores are spreading or getting worse despite treatment
  • Your child develops fever, swollen glands, or seems very unwell
  • The skin around the sores becomes very red, hot, or painful
  • You suspect impetigo in a newborn or very young infant
  • You are unsure if the rash is impetigo or another skin condition

Local options include:

  • Primary care and pediatric clinics at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health
  • Urgent care centers throughout the Grand Rapids metro area
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for information and community resources

Key Points About Impetigo (“School Sores”) in Grand Rapids

  • Impetigo is a contagious skin infection caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria.
  • It is also known as school sores because it commonly affects school‑aged children.
  • It is more common in warmer months in West Michigan but can occur year‑round, especially when skin is dry and cracked in winter.
  • Cuts, abrasions, insect bites, or eczema allow bacteria to enter deeper skin tissues and cause infection.
  • Impetigo looks unsightly but usually isn’t dangerous in healthy children and typically does not cause lasting skin damage when treated.
  • Treatment with antibiotic creams or oral antibiotics is usually effective, and it is important to complete the full course prescribed.
  • Good hygiene, handwashing, and covering sores help prevent spreading impetigo at home, school, and daycare in Grand Rapids.
  • Impetigo can be serious for newborns, so keep infected individuals away from babies and seek prompt medical care if a newborn shows any signs of skin infection.

If you live in the Grand Rapids, MI area and think your child may have impetigo, contact your local doctor, pediatrician, or urgent care clinic for evaluation and treatment, or reach out to the Kent County Health Department for additional guidance and resources.