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Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis in Children What are pharyngitis and tonsillitis in children? Pharyngitis is redness, pain, and swelling of the throat (pharynx). Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils. The tonsils are a pair of tissue masses on both sides at the back of the

Hemolytic Anemia in Children What is hemolytic anemia in children? Hemolytic anemia is a group of disorders in which the red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can make them. The term for destruction of red blood cells is hemolysis. What causes hemolytic anemia

Beta Thalassemia in Children What is beta thalassemia in children? Beta thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. This means it's passed down through a parent’s genes. It's a form of anemia. Anemia is a low red blood cell or low hemoglobin level. Hemoglobin is part of red blood

Failure to Thrive (FTT) in Children What is failure to thrive in children? Failure to thrive (FTT) is slow physical development in a baby or child. It’s caused by a baby or child not having enough nutrition. FTT is a clinical observation, not a diagnosis. It is used to describe a

Warts in Children What are skin warts in children? Warts on the skin are small, noncancerous skin growths. They are caused by a virus. Warts can spread to other parts of the body and to other people. What causes skin warts in a child? Warts are caused by a type of human

Poison Ivy Rash in Children What is poison ivy rash? Poison ivy rash is an itchy, allergic reaction to poison ivy. Poison ivy is a very common plant in the U.S. It's similar to two other plants called poison oak and poison sumac. The plants cause allergic dermatitis. This means

Learning Disorders in Children What is a learning disorder in children? A learning disorder is when a child has trouble learning in certain school subjects. Your child may have problems with reading, math, or writing. Skills are below what's expected for the child’s age, grade

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) in Adults What is whooping cough (pertussis)? Whooping cough (pertussis) is a very contagious respiratory illness. It mainly affects babies and young children, but adults can also get it. Whooping cough caused thousands of deaths in the 1930s and 1940s

Fever What is a fever? A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. It often means there is an abnormal process occurring in the body. Exercise, hot weather, inflammation, infection, vaccines, and many other things can make body temperature rise. What causes a fever

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD What is seasonal affective disorder? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression. It happens during certain seasons of the year, most often fall or winter. It is thought that shorter days and less daylight may set off a chemical