Rashes
Rashes are a common concern for parents with young children. A skin rash is an area of inflammation, or a change in the texture or color of the skin (e.g., redness, raised bumps). A skin rash can result from a range of sources, including irritation, disease (e.g., viral illness) or a reaction to certain exposures such as foods, animals and environmental factors.
Many rashes can look the same, making it difficult to know the exact diagnosis. Skin rashes can appear on the entire body or be confined to specific areas. They can last for a short time or they can recur. They may or may not be contagious.
Skin rashes are usually not serious and usually go away over time without any treatment. However, rashes should be evaluated by your pediatrician because some childhood rashes have serious or even life-threatening causes - in these situations a quick and proper diagnosis is crucial so that appropriate treatment can be given.
While a variety of skin rash relief products are available over-the-counter, these types of treatment should not be used without first consulting your pediatrician.
This section of the website will make available photographs for various childhood infectious diseases (e.g., chickenpox), allergic reactions and skin irritation from environmental exposures (e.g., poison ivy).
These photographs are not meant to replace your pediatrician's evaluation of your child as a complete history and physical examination are important for making the proper diagnosis.
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