Pediatric soft tissue infections

Quite often a soft tissue infection in a child may be the primary reason for seeking medical attention or an incidental finding on examination. To identify those infections that may be serious and require further intervention, all those dedicated to the care of children must be familiar with these illnesses and their complications. This article covers selected bacterial, viral, and fungal infections of the skin, subcutaneous fat, fascia, and muscle. Special considerations for the immunosuppressed child will also be discussed.