In this section we review four broad topics in pediatrics: atopic disease, rhinitis and conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and insect stings and snake bites. The first three topics comprise three of the most commonly encountered problems in pediatric practice. Although the fourth topic accounts for a relatively small number of office visits, it generates a great deal of concern among our patients and their parents. There have been significant contributions to the pediatric literature in each of these areas over the past year and we review those of particular interest.