Skin Infections

Symptoms of skin infections depend on the specific type of condition. They can include:

• Red, itchy skin
• Rashes
• Inflammation and swelling
• Fever
• Painful rashes and raised bumps

There are many different types of skin infections, including:

• Bacterial skin infections. Bacterial skin infections include:
  • Cellulitis. This infects surface skin and underlying tissues in any area of the body. It often starts in a cut or scratch.
  • Impetigo. This produces blisters or scaling on the face, neck, hands and diaper area in children.
  • Paronychia. This is a bacterial infection of the skin surrounding a fingernail.
• Fungal skin infections. Fungal skin infections include:
  • Paronychia. This is a fungal infection of the skin surrounding a fingernail.
  • Tinea infections. These infections are caused by dermatophytes (mold-like fungi) that live on dead tissues of the skin, nails, hair and scalp. Tinea grows in warm, moist environments that can occur when children sweat or stay wet for extended periods of time. Tinea infections include:
    • Athlete’s foot. This affects the soles of the feet, the skin between the toes and the toenails.
    • Jock itch. This infects the skin of the groin and upper thighs.
    • Ringworm. This can infect the skin anywhere on the body, nails and scalp. The rash often has a circular appearance.
• Viral skin infections. Viral skin infections include:
  • Herpes. This is a virus that causes sores around the mouth, nose and face.
  • Molluscum contagiosum. This is a contagious, wart-like skin infection that usually goes away on its own but sometimes requires treatment.
  • Warts. Warts are small rough bumps caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Yeast skin infections. Types of yeast infection include:
  • Diaper rash. This occurs as red raised bumps on the buttocks and genitalia of children who wear diapers.
  • Paronychia. This is a yeast infection of the skin around a fingernail.
  • Thrush. This is a candida infection of the mouth and throat.
• Erythema multiforme. This is a bull’s-eye shaped rash that happens as a reaction to an infection. It can be bacterial, fungal, viral or yeast in nature.

Diagnosis of Skin Infections

If your child shows signs of a skin infection, a pediatric dermatologist can perform the following exams to make a diagnosis:

• Physical exam. The doctor will examine your child’s body and any apparent rashes or skin irritations.
• Skin culture. A cotton swab is used to collect a sample from an open skin rash or sore. The sample is then sent to a lab where the material is placed in a culture dish to see if bacteria, fungus or viruses grow. This identifies the specific germ causing the skin infection.
• Biopsy. A sample of skin from the affected area is removed