Which contagious condition results in inflammation and is typically characterized by weeping and crusting?

Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that typically affects children but can occur in individuals of any age. The condition is characterized by the presence of red sores or blisters that can ooze and crust over, leading to the characteristic weeping and crusting appearance. This weeping occurs due to the formation of vesicles that break open and leak fluid.

Impetigo is usually caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Once the skin barrier is compromised, these bacteria can easily invade, resulting in inflammation and infection. The condition often spreads through direct contact or by sharing personal items, making it quite contagious.

In contrast, scabies is caused by an infestation of mites and is characterized by intense itching and a rash, but does not typically present as weeping and crusting. Verrucas, which are warts caused by the human papillomavirus, do not produce the same inflammatory response or fluid accumulation. Tinea corporis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection that results in a different type of rash that does not lead to weeping and crusting like impetigo does.