Though they may be common, certain childhood ailments can be frightening. For instance, if your child suddenly breaks out in a rash or his temperature rises, you may be unsure of what to do. It can be difficult to tell whether hives, which are red, swollen areas of the skin, or fever are causes for concern or if they will clear up on their own.

Although you may think that scoliosis, a curve in the spine, is a condition that affects children as they enter their teenage years, it can also affect younger children and infants. If a baby is born with the condition, it is known as congenital scoliosis. Scoliosis that develops before the child turns 3 is called infantile scoliosis.

Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, is usually a serious disease that affects one or both lungs. Often, a child with pneumonia needs to stay in bed. Some may even need to head to the hospital to be watched over by a doctor. Walking pneumonia is a very mild form of the disease. Most cases of walking pneumonia are caused by a type of bacteria known as Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Mycoplasma bacteria are different from regular bacteria in that they do not have a cell wall.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a condition that causes children to be impulsive, overly active or to have trouble paying attention and focusing. Some children with ADHD struggle with all three symptoms. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, your doctor may recommend several treatment options. You and your doctor should set goals for the treatment, according to MedlinePlus, and re-evaluate it if those goals are not met.

An external ear infection, also commonly known as swimmer’s ear or otitis externa, affects the ear canal, which starts at the opening of the ear and continues to the ear drum. Otitis externa differs from a middle ear infection, which children commonly get from a cold. When a child has a middle ear infection, the eustachian tube becomes filled with fluid and bacteria. During an external ear infection, the skin of the ear canal becomes infected with bacteria.