All abdominal masses should be evaluated by your doctor.  However, it is helpful to know some basic facts about what are normal and abnormal bumps in the belly.  Many normal organs can be felt from the outside of your child's belly.  Some bumps are more obvious in special situations, such as when the colon is full of poop (especially when your child is constipated), or when your child has a full bladder.  Infants have soft bellies which makes some normal abdominal contents more easy to feel.  Older children and adults have thick abdominal muscles that make it difficult to feel inside.

Most parents are very familiar with the difficult task of keeping a baby's bottom clean and dry.  Frequent contact with urine and feces makes the diaper-area skin prone to irritation and infection.  Most diaper rashes are caused by chemical irritation from stools and and urine.  Less common causes of diaper area rashes include yeast or bacterial infection of the skin, allergy, or vitamin deficiency.  Some infants may be sensitive to diaper materials, soaps or chemicals in baby wipes.  Baby anatomy in the diaper area leads to an amazing number of creases and crevices which are difficult to keep clean.  Most diaper rashes can be treated with cleaning, drying, moisture barrier ointments, or powders.

Kids climb, jump, bounce, skip, slide, hit, skidaddle, run, hurdle, hurl, ride, slip and boogy!  It is no wonder muscle injuries in kids are common.  So, is there a broken bone?  Should I see my doctor?  Strains and sprains typically represent mild injuries of muscles, ligaments and tendons.  It is often difficult to determine the extent of the injury without an evaluation by a physician or X-rays.  Mild ligament injuries involving abnormal motion of a joint are called sprains.  Ligaments are the fibrous bands that connect bones to other bones.  Strains involve mild injury to a muscle/tendon unit.  Tendons connect muscles to bones.  Most strains and sprains can be treated with ice, elevation and pain medications.  Some more serious injuries require splints or braces to immobilize the joint.  Severe injury may require surgery.