RFSymptoms: Safety netting advice
ChildrenImpetigo
DATE LAST REVIEWED: 05/11/2026
When to seek further review
- Contact the treating pharmacist or GP if the sores worsen during treatment, or have not improved when the prescribed course is finished.
- Seek advice sooner for spreading redness, increasing pain or swelling, fever, blisters, or feeling unwell.
- A baby under 12 months with suspected impetigo needs GP assessment. Seek GP advice if immunity is weakened, sores are on the breast while breastfeeding, or infections keep returning.
- Tell the surgery before attending because impetigo spreads easily. Follow the advice about staying off school, nursery or work.
- Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
- Contact your GP when the surgery is open. If it is closed, you cannot get the help you need, or you are unsure what to do, call NHS 111. You can call even if you are not sure whether the symptoms are serious.
When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)
- Rapidly spreading painful skin, dark skin, extensive blistering or peeling with severe illness.
- Swelling around an eye with reduced sight, a bulging eye or painful eye movements.
- Rapid deterioration with confusion, collapse or severe breathing difficulty.
- Severe difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, or the skin pulling in deeply under or between the ribs.
- Being very difficult to wake or unresponsive.
- Being unusually floppy, confused or not responding as usual.
- Blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.
How to spot sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.
An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.
