Kids cough... a lot.  The question we have as parents, and me as a parent and Pediatrician, is "Why is my child coughing?" and "Does my child need to see a doctor?"  The most common cause of cough is an upper respiratory tract infection, typically caused by a virus.  But what about couging that lasts for several weeks, or is so severe that my child is vomiting, or is disrupting her sleep or schoolwork?  When does coughing represent a chronic illness, such as cystic fibrosis or asthma?  When does cough represent a serious illness such as influenza (the flu) or pneumonia?  The purpose of this article is to explore some of these common questions.

Skin bacterial infections come in many different forms and are a common childhood complaint.  Cellulitis is an infection of the cells of the skin most often caused by bacteria entering the skin through a cut or scratch.  Cellulitis may progress to cause an abscess, or a collection of pus under the skin.  Most cases of cellulitis are mild and respond quickly to a course of antibiotics.  Abscesses may require incision and drainage to improve healing.  In some cases, skin infections can spread to other parts of the body, either directly or through the blood stream causing severe illness.  Some cases of cellulitis deserve special attention because swelling or extension of the infection may cause significant problems (such as in the airway, eye socket or on the face).

Hives (a.k.a. - urticaria and angioedema) are bumped-up skin lesions that typically result from an allergic response to specific allergens such as foods, medications, and stinging insect venoms.  Viral infections and exposure to cold, sun or pressure can cause hives in some children.  Hives are generally harmless and typically resolve without treatment within minutes or hours.  Often, no cause is identified.  When hives occur rapidly after an exposure (such as a bee sting) and are associated with other symptoms such as breathing difficulty, vomiting, malaise and/or distress, emergency medical treatment may be necessary.  Mild cases of hives often don't require treatment, however antihistamines may accelerate recovery.