Common superficial skin infections and infestations

There are many paediatric infections and infestations of the skin. There are clearly many more skin infections that can occur worldwide and as populations become more mobile can be acquired elsewhere and present in the UK. The following paper examines the common problems encountered in UK practice. Common bacterial problems such as cellulitis, impetigo and erysipelas; viral infections such as molluscum contagiosum, herpes simplex, viral warts, human herpes-6 infection; fungal infections such as tinea corporis and pityriasis versicolor and finally parasitic infections such as scabies and pediculosis are discussed from a pragmatic view point.