When your child comes home from preschool with a letter stating that a child in their class has been diagnosed as having hand, foot, and mouth disease, panic may set it.  If you’ve never heard of this illness before, the name can seem quite ominous! Hand, foot, and mouth disease is one of the most common (and contagious) childhood illnesses.    The disease is named for the characteristic breakouts of ulcers in the mouth and a blistery rash or sores that occur on the palms of the hands and soles of the

With long days at the pool and other types of water play during the summer months, swimmer’s ear is a common issue.  Swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa, is an infection of the ear canal. This is different from the typical ear infection (otitis media), which affects the middle ear.  We’ll discuss the causes and treatment of this common medical problem, as well as what steps you can take to prevent it from occurring in your child.    Causes of swimmer’s ear   Swimmer’s ear often occurs when water enters the ear canal and stays

It’s a familiar scene: it’s been a nice lazy Sunday hanging out in the yard, grilling hot dogs while the kids run around getting cooled off in the sprinklers. You come in just as it’s getting dark, only to notice your kids are itching up a storm. Sure enough, they’ve been bitten all over by mosquitos.    With summer comes an increase in insects and insect bites. Bees, mosquitoes, wasps, ticks, and more can cause issues ranging from the annoying (itching and swelling) to the potentially life-threatening (allergic reactions). Let’s cover how