School Sores (Impetigo) in Children: What They Look Like, Treatment and School Exclusion

On this page

• What are school sores (impetigo)?
• What does impetigo look like?
• How do you get school sores?
• Is impetigo contagious, and for how long?
• How are school sores treated?
• Can impetigo go away on its own?
• How long does impetigo last?
• When can my child go back to school or daycare?
• Can adults get impetigo?
• When to see a doctor
• Stopping the spread at home
• FAQs

What are school sores (impetigo)?

School sores is the common Australian name for impetigo, a bacterial skin infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus or group A streptococcus — the same family of bacteria behind strep A infection. It earned the name because it spreads so easily between children at school and childcare. It looks unpleasant but is usually mild, and it responds quickly to treatment from a GP.

What does impetigo look like?

Impetigo starts as small blisters or sores, most often around the nose and mouth, or on the hands and legs. The blisters burst and weep, then dry into the tell-tale golden, honey-coloured crusts. Sores can be single or in clusters, and they are often mildly itchy. Scratching spreads the infection to new patches of skin — and to other people.

Not sure it is impetigo? Here is how it compares with two other common childhood culprits:

	School sores (impetigo)	Chickenpox	Cold sores
What the spots look like	Blisters that burst and form golden, honey-coloured crusts	Itchy red spots that become blisters, then scabs, in crops	Small fluid-filled blisters that tingle, then crust
Where they usually appear	Around the nose and mouth, hands, legs	Chest, back, tummy and face, spreading widely	On or around the lips
Cause	Bacteria (staph or group A strep)	Virus (varicella-zoster)	Virus (herpes simplex)
Treatment	GP-prescribed antibiotic cream or tablets	Clears on its own; comfort care for the itch	Usually clears on its own; antiviral creams can help
School exclusion (AU)	Until antibiotics have started and exposed sores are covered	Until every blister has crusted over	No exclusion; avoid kissing and sharing drink bottles

If the rash looks different again, compare it with chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease.

How do you get school sores?

Impetigo spreads by touch — contact with the sores or their fluid, or with towels, bedding, clothing and toys an infected child has used. The bacteria often get started where skin is already broken: a scratch, insect bite, graze, eczema patch, or spots from chickenpox that have been scratched open. Children aged around two to five are most commonly affected, and it spreads quickly through schools and childcare in warmer months.

Is impetigo contagious, and for how long?

Yes, very. Impetigo remains contagious while the sores are weeping or crusted and untreated. Once your child has had 24 hours of the antibiotics their GP prescribes, they are generally no longer considered contagious — one of the best reasons not to wait and see.

How are school sores treated?

Impetigo is treated by a doctor. Your GP will usually prescribe an antibiotic ointment for small patches, or oral antibiotics if the sores are widespread. At home, follow their advice on gently removing loose crusts before applying ointment, keep the sores covered with a watertight dressing, and keep your child's nails short and hands clean.

Searching for how to get rid of impetigo in 24 hours? There is no 24-hour cure. What the 24-hour figure really refers to is contagiousness and school exclusion: after a full day of antibiotic treatment your child is usually no longer contagious and can return to school with sores covered. The sores themselves take about a week to heal.

Can impetigo go away on its own?

Mild impetigo can eventually clear without treatment, but doctors do not recommend waiting it out. Untreated sores stay contagious for weeks, keep your child out of school longer, often spread to more skin, and carry a small risk of complications — particularly when group A strep is the cause. A quick GP visit and a course of antibiotics is the faster, safer path.

How long does impetigo last?

With treatment, impetigo usually clears within seven to ten days, and the sores generally heal without scarring. Without treatment it can grumble on for several weeks and keep spreading. New sores appearing after a few days of treatment are worth another look from your GP.

When can my child go back to school or daycare?

Under Australian staying-home guidance, children with impetigo are excluded from school, preschool and childcare until antibiotic treatment has started — most schools ask for at least 24 hours of treatment — and any sores on exposed skin, like the face, arms and legs, must be covered with a watertight dressing. Rules can vary slightly between states and individual centres, so let the school know and check what they require. Telling them also helps them watch for other cases.

Can adults get impetigo?

Yes. Impetigo is most common in young children, but adults can catch it through close contact — usually from a child in the household. The same rules apply: see a GP, keep the sores covered, wash hands often and do not share towels. Parents caring for a child with school sores should be extra careful with hand hygiene.

When to see a doctor

Always see your GP if you think your child has impetigo — it needs prescription treatment. Go back, or seek help sooner, if:

• The skin around the sores becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen or painful (possible cellulitis)
• Your child develops a fever or seems generally unwell
• The sores keep spreading after a few days of treatment
• Your child has swelling, puffiness or changes in their wee after a strep skin infection — rare, but worth prompt review

For advice any time, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (or 13 HEALTH on 13 43 25 84 in Queensland). If your child is seriously unwell — very drowsy, struggling to breathe, or you are frightened — call 000.

Stopping the spread at home

Good hygiene is what keeps one case of school sores from becoming a household outbreak:

• Wash hands often with soap and water, and keep hand sanitiser handy for when you are out and about.
• Keep the sores covered. A stocked first aid kit with watertight dressings makes the twice-daily cover-and-change routine easier.
• Do not share towels, face washers, bedding or clothing; wash them in hot water.
• Keep nails short and discourage scratching or picking at crusts.
• Keep an eye on temperature. Fever is not typical with mild impetigo — if it appears, check with a forehead thermometer and see our guide to toddler fever.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get rid of impetigo in 24 hours?

No. Impetigo needs GP-prescribed antibiotics, and the sores take about a week to heal. The 24-hour figure refers to contagiousness: after 24 hours of treatment, children are usually no longer contagious and can return to school with sores covered.

Should school sores be covered?

Yes. Cover sores with a watertight dressing to stop the fluid spreading the bacteria. Schools and childcare centres require exposed sores to be covered before a child returns.

Is impetigo itchy or painful?

The sores are often mildly itchy and can be a little tender, but severe pain is unusual. Discourage scratching — it spreads the infection and can lead to scarring.

Can impetigo come back?

Yes. Having impetigo once does not make your child immune, and repeat infections happen. Good hand hygiene, short nails, not sharing towels, and treating conditions like eczema that break the skin all reduce the risk.

Do I need to tell the school or daycare?

Yes. Impetigo is on the exclusion list, so the school needs to know your child is being treated and when they can return. It also lets staff watch for sores in other children.

Related reading

Sorting out spots and rashes? Compare school sores with chickenpox, hand, foot and mouth disease and the other illnesses in our strep A guide. You can browse the full FeverMates range in our online shop.

Sources

Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne; healthdirect Australia; Raising Children Network; NHMRC Staying Healthy guidelines. Reviewed against Australian guidance.

This article is general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Impetigo needs diagnosis and treatment from a doctor. If you are worried about your child's health, contact your GP, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or in an emergency call 000.