Dermatology

Valuable as they are, available vaccines have limitations, which keeps the search for new ones going. Here is a preview of what to look forward to in this corner of therapeutics.

You meet your patient late one evening in the emergency department: a 6-year-old boy comfortably asleep as his mother relates their day's events to you.

A 6-year-old girl, who went on a weekend trip with her family and stayed at a "famous" downtown hotel, awoke in the morning to find an itchy rash on her arms and legs. Several other family members had similar, but more limited, eruptions on exposed areas of skin. Topical steroids and antibiotics offered little relief.

Herpes simplex infection is often misdiagnosed. Here is a look at distinguishing features of type 1 infections and a review of associated disorders, diagnostic tools, and treatment options.

A buildup of cerumen can make it difficult to examine your patient's ears, but the wrong approach to cleaning the wax can cause even bigger problems. What's the right way to get rid of wax?

Once Thanksgiving 2003 passed, Congress grew anxious to adjourn; members prefer to spend the Christmas season at home, with family and constituents.

Pediatricians increasingly are recognizing a mandate to treat pain aggressively. Psychotropic drugs have new pediatric uses, broadening clinicians' options.

A 22-month-old boy is brought to you with an asymptomatic, linear scaly rash that developed on his right elbow four months ago. Two weeks after onset, the eruption had extended down his right arm to the top of the hand and onto the fourth finger.

Pediatricians increasingly are recognizing a mandate to treat pain aggressively. Psychotropic drugs have new pediatric uses, broadening clinicians' options.

The physical examination for a patient seeking clearance to participate in a sport should focus on areas likely to yield significant findings--notably, the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems.

Proper measurement of blood pressure is essential both to detect children with hypertension and to avoid over-diagnosis. Once the condition is identified, the pediatrician must decide whether the patient requires lifestyle changes alone or antihypertensive drug treatment as well.

Q Now that summer is here, I get calls from parents asking how to keep their children from constantly scratching itchy rashes that occur during the warmer months.

The author reviews the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a handful (and they are a handful!) of dermatologic complaints: eczema, diaper rash, scabies, lice, and alopecia areata.

Something's "going around": Skin creases on a baby's limbs (Michelin tire baby syndrome, or congenital diffuse lipomatosis)

It isn't just about skin: Atopic dermatitis affects a child's psyche. To keep the disease under control, prescribe sufficient topical corticosteroids and administer a generous dosage of reassurance.

The authors take a case-based look at 10 immune disorders, and review when to suspect a primary immunodeficiency in a child with frequent infections and how to confirm the diagnosis.

A toddler was brought to the emergency department with a 3-day history of a rash on her neck and irritability and fever (temperature, 38.3°C [101°F]) of 1 day's duration. The child's mother noticed a red, purulent bump on the girl's hand 2 days before the rash developed.

After several days of suffering fever, headache, and malaise, a 17-year-old boy noticed a rash developing over much of his body. He sought medical attention and was admitted to the hospital.

A physician who practiced amid an outbreak of smallpox reviews the immunization procedure and complications.

A physician who practiced amid an outbreak of smallpox reviews the immunization procedure and complications.