What is the usual course of treatment for a large area affected by impetigo?

The usual course of treatment for a large area affected by impetigo involves the use of oral antibiotics. Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection, typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes, and it is characterized by red sores that can rupture, ooze, and crust over. In cases where the infection covers a large area or multiple lesions are present, oral antibiotics are preferred as they can effectively clear the infection from the body and help prevent complications or the spread of the infection to others.

Topical antibiotics may be sufficient for smaller, localized infections; however, systemic treatment is necessary for more extensive cases to ensure thorough eradication of the bacteria. Oral antibiotics allow for deeper tissue penetration and can address the widespread nature of the infection more effectively than topical treatments.

Other treatment options, such as injections of corticosteroids, cold compresses, or antifungal medications, are not appropriate for impetigo, as corticosteroids do not treat the underlying bacterial infection, cold compresses provide symptomatic relief but do not resolve the infection, and antifungal medications are ineffective against bacterial infections like impetigo. Without the correct antibiotic treatment, impetigo could potentially worsen or lead to additional complications.