There are many common skin infections that affect children, that can be caused by any number of sources. Skin infections can be classified as being viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic, with different common infections listed under each grouping. Symptoms of the different types of skin infections can have similarities so it can be hard to distinguish what type of infection your child has without the help of a doctor. The different skin infections in kids include: - Viral infections are caused by a virus that can present themselves in children through the appearance of warts, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, herpes simplex, or molluscum contagiosum. - Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria and show up in the form of impetigo, cellulitis, and abscesses. - Fungal infections commonly experienced by children include tinea capitis, tinea corporis, and oral and genital candidiasis. - The most common parasitic skin infection that affects children is scabies. In most cases, treatment for skin infections is available for patients, either through the use of topical cream or oral antibiotics. Your doctor will be able to provide the appropriate treatment for your child’s skin infection once the type of skin infection has been identified. The team at Columbia Clinic Urgent Care is familiar with all types of skin infections that can affect children and are able to diagnose and treat them, or at least manage the symptoms to provide relief.