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Metabolic Syndrome What is metabolic syndrome? Metabolic syndrome means that you have three or more health problems that put you at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It is also known as insulin resistance syndrome. It's also called syndrome X. If you have

Lyme Disease in Children What is Lyme disease in children? Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria are spread by tick bites. Lyme disease is a year-round problem, but it peaks during the spring and summer months. It can cause

Mood Disorders in Teens What are mood disorders in teens? Mood disorders are a group of mental health problems. They are sometimes called affective disorders. These are the most common types: Major depression. A teen with this type has a depressed or irritable mood, along with

Anorectal Malformation in Children What is an anorectal malformation in children? Anorectal malformations are birth defects, or problems that happen as an unborn baby is developing during pregnancy. With this defect, the anus and rectum don’t develop properly. They are the lower

Atherosclerosis What is atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is thickening of the walls of the arteries. It is also known as hardening of the arteries. It is caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. Plaque is made up of deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol

HIV/AIDS What is HIV/AIDS? The term AIDS refers to the most advanced stages of an infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The current definition of AIDS includes: All HIV-infected people who have fewer than 200 CD4+ T cells (also called T4 cells or just T

Congenital Heart Disease According to the American Heart Association, about 9 of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. have a congenital heart defect. This is a problem that occurs as the baby's heart is developing during pregnancy, before the baby is born. Congenital heart defects

Biliary Atresia in Children What is biliary atresia in children? Biliary atresia is a rare liver disease that occurs in newborn babies. It's often found shortly after birth. The disorder affects tubes in the liver called bile ducts. If not treated with surgery, it can be fatal

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? STIs are infections passed from person to person through sexual contact. They may also be called STDs for sexually transmitted diseases. Millions of new cases are diagnosed every year in the U

Viral Hepatitis Overview What is hepatitis? Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The liver is located in the upper right part of the belly (abdomen). Hepatitis can be caused by a virus that leads to damage of liver cells. Hepatitis has 2 types: Acute hepatitis. This type