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Varicose Veins What are varicose veins? Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins. They can happen anywhere in the body. But they are more common in the legs. Varicose veins are not considered a serious health problem. But they can be uncomfortable and can lead to more serious

Fluency Disorder What is a fluency disorder? Having a fluency disorder means you have trouble speaking in a fluid or flowing way. You may say the whole word or parts of the word more than once. Or you may pause awkwardly between words. This is called stuttering. You may speak

Heart Transplant for Children What is a heart transplant for a child? A heart transplant is surgery to replace a heart that isn't able to work the way it needs to with a healthy one. The healthy heart comes from an organ donor. Heart donors are adults or children who are

Dehydration What is dehydration? Dehydration means that you don’t have enough water in your body. The human body normally contains a lot of water. In fact, 50% to 60% of your body weight comes from water. It helps keep your body healthy and working well. Mild dehydration can

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Children What is developmental dysplasia of the hip in children? Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a health problem of the hip joint. It’s when the joint hasn’t formed normally, so it doesn’t work as it should. DDH is present at

Diphtheria What is diphtheria? Diphtheria is an illness caused by bacteria. There are two types: Respiratory diphtheria. This type affects the throat, nose, and tonsils. Skin (cutaneous) diphtheria. This type affects the skin. It was a common childhood disease in the past. A

Stridor in Children What is stridor in children? Stridor is a noisy or high-pitched sound with breathing. It's a sign that the upper airway is partially blocked. It may involve the nose, mouth, throat, voice box (larynx), or windpipe (trachea). What causes stridor in a child

Types of Genetic Testing Genetic tests look for changes in a person's genes. They can also look for changes in the amount, function, or structure of key proteins coded by genes. Genetic tests can look at the DNA or RNA that play a role in certain conditions. Abnormal test results

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

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