Blanchard Valley Health System

By Mike Patrick, MD
Medical Director for Interactive Media, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Despite its big, scary-sounding name, molluscum contagiosum is a common and relatively harmless skin condition seen in many children. It comes in the form of bumps that range in size from a pinhead to a pencil eraser. The bumps are caused by a skin virus and appear as painless domes that are typically flesh-colored, although they may develop a white center and/or redness around the edges. The telltale sign of molluscum contagiosum is a small dimple (umbilication) on top and near the center. Although one bump may appear alone, they are often seen in clusters or scattered on different areas of the skin.

By Emily Decker, MD
Primary Care Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Sleepwalking happens when a child is asleep but does activities such as sitting up, getting out of bed, eating, or even getting dressed. Those activities could last a few seconds to a half hour–and the child will usually never remember they did it. It usually happens within the first couple hours of a child falling asleep.