Impetigo spreads in Split as children among those most affected

SPLIT, 18 July 2026 – A contagious bacterial skin infection is reportedly spreading in Split, with children among those most affected.

According to local news outlet Dalmacija Danas, paediatric clinics in the city have seen increasingly busy waiting rooms in recent days amid reports of impetigo cases.

Impetigo is a superficial bacterial infection of the skin that commonly affects children. It often appears around the nose and mouth, initially developing as a small sore or blister.

Once it breaks, it can leave a distinctive yellowish, “honey-coloured” crust.

The infection can spread quickly through direct contact with affected skin. It may also be transmitted indirectly through shared items such as towels, toys and bedding.

Dr Diana Nonković, an epidemiologist at the Teaching Institute of Public Health of Split-Dalmatia County, said the infection can spread when the characteristic crusts are scratched, peeled or touched.

“These crusts are one form of impetigo, a bacterial infection. If they are peeled off or touched, the infection can spread further across the body and to another person,” Nonković told Dalmacija Danas.

She said transmission frequently occurs within families, particularly when children pass the infection to one another.

Treatment is generally effective. Nonković said antiseptic preparations can be used to treat the affected areas, while covering the lesions can help prevent children from scratching or picking at them.

In cases where the infection spreads extensively across the body, oral antibiotics may be prescribed, she said.

Basic hygiene measures are important in limiting transmission. The skin should be kept clean, affected areas should not be touched unnecessarily, and hands should be washed regularly. Personal items such as towels and bedding should not be shared.

(Photo: James Heilman, MD/CC BY-SA 4.0)

People with impetigo are also advised to avoid swimming in the sea while the skin is affected, as salt water may further irritate the affected areas. Care should also be taken with sun exposure, as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may occur after the infection.

The infection is usually manageable with appropriate treatment, but its high contagiousness makes early attention and good hygiene particularly important, especially in households with young children.