Neurologic infections in children are frequently accompanied by cutaneous findings that may direct the physician toward the correct diagnosis. In some instances, the appearance of an eruption (such as erythema chronicum migrans and Lyme disease) is specific or a rapid bedside diagnostic test (Tzanck preparation for herpes simplex) is extremely helpful in sorting out the differential diagnosis of a child's illness. In this article, cutaneous clues to some of the more important childhood infections will be reviewed.