Infections and infestations of the skin in children

Infections and infestations of the skin form a large proportion of skin diseases in children, especially in the tropics, but also in temperate areas. In many instances, superficial skin infections can be self-limiting as long as there is no impairment of the immune system, but some infections are chronic even when the immune responses are intact. In this review, we will concentrate on primary skin infections and infestations that are common in Europe, those potentially serious if not recognised and those in which recent advances have altered approach to management.