Travel Insurance for Impetigo

What is impetigo?

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection, causing red sores or blisters that scab over and spread easily. It appears most often around the nose and mouth, although it can appear anywhere. Children get it most, but adults can too. It’s usually a short-lived skin condition.

It often starts where the skin is already broken, for instance through a cut, insect bite, or eczema. Treatment is usually an antiseptic or antibiotic cream, and sometimes antibiotic tablets, and it normally clears in about a week with treatment. The NHS impetigo page explains how to stop it spreading.

Why do I need to declare impetigo for travel insurance?

If you have impetigo now, are still on antibiotics or keep getting it, that could count as a pre-existing medical condition. It’s a skin infection that can spread to other parts of the body or to the people you’re travelling with, and occasionally it leads to cellulitis, which may need a doctor abroad. An active case could also force you to cancel.

We may need to know about it, and leaving it undeclared could mean a related claim is refused or reduced.

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance with impetigo?

Yes. Impetigo is a short-term infection, so a past case that has fully cleared is unlikely to matter, and picking it up for the first time while you’re away is normally treated as a new illness. What can affect whether cover is offered is timing: whether it has cleared, whether you’re still on antibiotics, and whether there were complications such as cellulitis.

What we’ll ask about impetigo

Our online screening is easy to follow, and you may be asked a couple of questions about impetigo. When you’ve declared this condition, carry on with any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

Finishing the medical declaration takes you through to the quote page. Provided impetigo and your other declared conditions can be covered, you’ll be presented with a list of quotes. The premium you see already includes cover for your medical, and if we cannot provide cover, you’ll know before going ahead.

If your health changes before travelling

Skin infections can spread or return. If the infection spreads or comes back, your treatment changes, you’re admitted to hospital, or you’re referred for tests between now and departure, you must let us know. It may mean reviewing your cover or referring your medical situation to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to proceed with cover. Not telling us about a change in your medical can lead to a future claim being affected or denied.

What can impetigo travel insurance cover?

If impetigo is declared and accepted, or if you catch it for the first time while away, emergency treatment abroad can be covered. A child picking up impetigo from a scraped knee on a camping holiday in France might need a doctor and antibiotics, and those costs can be claimed. In the rare event that you need help getting home, repatriation can be covered, subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If you or a travelling companion has impetigo before departure and a doctor advises against travel, cancellation cover may help with non-refundable costs. Some schools, nurseries and holiday clubs ask children to stay away until the sores have crusted over or treatment has worked.

Treatment you’d planned to have abroad isn’t covered, and nor is a claim linked to a condition you didn’t declare.

Will impetigo affect the cost of travel insurance?

It's a possibility. It depends on the result of our online medical screening, and a combination of any other declared medical conditions. Like every quote, age, destination, and trip length will play their part.

Single trip or annual cover with impetigo

For one trip, single trip cover keeps things simple. Families who go away several times a year might prefer annual travel insurance, depending on the screening result.

Travelling with impetigo: practical tips

These tips are general and don’t form part of your cover.

Ideally, wait until the infection has cleared before travelling. Impetigo spreads through touch and shared towels, and you’re usually no longer infectious 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or once the sores have dried and crusted.

Hot, humid weather, insect bites and scratches make impetigo more likely. Clean any cuts or bites, cover them, and try not to scratch. Insect repellent can reduce bites in the first place.

A few simple habits help stop it spreading:

1. use your own towel, flannel and pillowcase
2. wash your hands after touching the sores or applying cream
3. keep children’s nails short to cut down on scratching
4. avoid swimming pools and shared play areas until it has cleared

Finish any treatment course, even if the skin looks better, and get it looked at by a doctor or pharmacist if it spreads or isn’t improving.

How to get a quote

Add your trip and traveller details, answer the screening questions if anyone has impetigo, then choose your cover. You’ll see the price before paying.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Skin Pages

• Acne Travel Insurance
• Eczema or Dermatitis Travel Insurance
• Impetigo Travel Insurance
• Psoriasis Travel Insurance
• Rosacea Travel Insurance
• Shingles Travel Insurance
• Skin Cyst Travel Insurance
• Varicose Eczema Travel Insurance

Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.