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Definition of "impetigo" [‖Im•pe•ti•go]

  • A contagious bacterial skin infection, usually of children, that is characterized by the eruption of superficial pustules and the formation of thick yellow crusts, commonly on the face. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "impetigo" in a sentence
  • "The two-time Hall County spelling champion misspelled the word impetigo, which is a contagious skin disease, in the eighth round of the competition."
  • "But you can also have impetigo, which is a staph or strep skin infection, which can be treated with antibiotics."
  • "Every parent knows about "strep" -- the bacteria that causes sore throats, fevers and a rash called impetigo, mostly in children."