Cutaneous infectious diseases: Kids are not just little people

Clin Dermatol. 2015 Nov-Dec;33(6):657-71. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.09.008. Epub 2015 Sep 14.

Abstract

The changes in immune response that occur with age play a significant role in disease presentation and patient management. Evolution of the innate and adaptive immune systems throughout life, influenced partly by hormonal changes associated with puberty, plays a role in the differences between pediatric and adult response to disease. We review a series of manifestations of dermatologic infectious diseases spanning bacterial, viral, and fungal origins that can be seen in both pediatric and adult age groups and highlight similarities and differences in presentation and disease course. Therapeutic options are also discussed for these infectious diseases, with particular attention to variations in management between these population subgroups, given differences in pharmacokinetics and side effect profiles.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acrodermatitis / epidemiology
  • Acrodermatitis / virology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Community-Acquired Infections / drug therapy
  • Erythema Infectiosum / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lyme Disease / complications
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis*
  • Lyme Disease / drug therapy
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
  • Molluscum Contagiosum / complications
  • Molluscum Contagiosum / drug therapy
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / complications
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / diagnosis*
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / drug therapy*
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections / microbiology
  • Tinea Capitis / diagnosis
  • Tinea Capitis / drug therapy
  • Tinea Capitis / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents