Impetigo Differential Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis that fits 5-year-old Johnny is Impetigo. Impetigo is caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes, which are Gram-positive bacterias that are highly contagious (Hartman-Adams, Banvard, & Juckett, 2014). According to Hartman-Adams, Banvard, & Juckett (2014), it is the most common bacterial skin infection seen in children between the ages of two and five years old. The symptoms associated with impetigo are classified as ruptured oozing sores, and honey-colored crust on the face and extremities (Hart-man-Adams, Banvard, & Juckett (2014). Johnny’s physical symptoms and his ability to spread the infection has linked him to the diagnosis of impetigo.
The next differential diagnosis for five-year-old Johnny is Herpes simplex type I. Herpes simplex type I is a viral infection commonly seen …show more content…
Varicella-zoster virus, also known as chickenpox is in the same family as the herpes virus and is highly contagious. Chickenpox is transmitted when an individual meets fluid-filled blisters or respiratory droplets (Walsh, & Smith, 2017). The clinical manifestations seen with chickenpox are fever, itchy blister rash that forms a crust once opened (Walsh, & Smith, 2017). Chickenpox has an incubation period from 10-21 day before signs of visible rash (Walsh, & Smith, 2017). As stated by Walsh, & Smith (2017), chickenpox rash is seen on the trunk and is spread to the face and extremities. Even though some of Johnny’s symptoms are similar to that of the chickenpox virus, chickenpox would be ruled out based on Johnny symptoms of running nose for 1 week before the rash appeared around his nose and mouth. Individuals with chickenpox have rash on their head and face and do not necessarily get large maple colored crusted rash around their nose and mouth as Johnny did. According to the Mayo Clinic (2017), chickenpox rashes are small fluid-filled and not large rash that Johnny