Skin conditions are diagnosed and treated regularly in any busy pediatric practice. The dermatologic issues we see may range in seriousness from a mild nuisance to a life threatening condition. It would take a full medical text book to cover the entire gambit of conditions we see even at a superficial level. I would like to address just 5 of the more common skin findings or diseases we see in general pediatrics. I will cover the following conditions in my article: Molluscum Contagiosum, Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD), Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis of the scalp (“cradle cap”), Tinea Corporis (“ringworm”), and Fifth’s Disease.

As the school year starts, our kids are exposed to more germs. As temperatures turn cooler, we stay indoors more. These two factors contribute to the start of cold and flu season. We are already seeing ads at the grocery store and at the pharmacy for the flu shot. Doctors continue to recommend the annual vaccination, whether in shot or nasal mist form, as the best defense against contracting influenza. Often confusion exists about the flu virus. People confuse in-fluenza, which affects the respiratory tract, with the “stomach flu,” with affects the gastrointestinal system and is not pre-vented by the vaccine. People may wonder if the flu is a serious illness that warrants vaccination. A review of influenza—its symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications, treatment and prevention—will hopefully clear up this confusion and keep you healthier this flu season.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain important hormones. Women, especially those older than age 50, are more likely to have hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in your body. It seldom causes symptoms in the early stages, but, over time, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease. The good news is that accurate thyroid function tests are available to diagnose hypothyroidism, and treatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormone is usually simple, safe and effective once the proper dosage is established.