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Osteoporosis What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a disease that causes weak, thinning bones. This puts the bones at greater risk of breaking. The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists. What causes osteoporosis? Researchers don't know the exact cause for

Polio (Poliomyelitis) What is polio? Poliomyelitis is commonly called polio. It's an infectious disease. It is caused by 1 of 3 types of poliovirus. Polio is easily spread from person to person. The poliovirus is a virus that can cause paralysis. But most people who are infected

Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) What is VWD? Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an inherited disorder that affects the blood's ability to clot. What causes VWD? VWD is almost always inherited. This means it is passed from parents to children. People with the disorder may have low

Low Back Pain What is low back pain? Low back pain can range from mild, dull, annoying pain, to persistent, severe, disabling pain in the lower back. Pain in the lower back can restrict mobility and interfere with normal functioning. What causes low back pain? The exact cause of

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

Hereditary Hemochromatosis What is hereditary hemochromatosis? Hereditary hemochromatosis is a genetic blood disorder that causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat. Iron is a mineral found in many foods. But too much iron is toxic to your body. The excess

Topic Index - Eye Care Eye Care Home Anatomy of the Eye Eye Care Specialists Eye Examinations Correcting or Improving Vision Eye Glasses and Contact Lenses Corrective Eye Surgeries for Refractive Errors Low Vision Devices Eye Disorders Overview of Eye Disorders Age-Related

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Children What is immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in children? ITP is a blood disorder that causes a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets help stop bleeding. So a decrease in platelets can result in easy bruising

Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy in Children What is FSHD in children? Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a rare genetic muscle disease that affects the muscles of your child’s face, shoulders, upper arms, and lower legs. These muscles weaken and shrink

Introduction to Menopause What is menopause? When a person permanently stops having menstrual periods, this is called menopause. This means they can no longer get pregnant. Many healthcare providers use the term menopause to refer to the period of time when hormone levels start