Search Results

Shingles What is shingles? Shingles (herpes zoster) is a common infection of the nerves. It is caused by a virus. Shingles set off a painful rash or small blisters on an area of skin. It can appear anywhere on the body, but it typically appears on only one side of the face or

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) What are urinary tract infections? Urinary tract infections or UTIs are infections in any part of the urinary tract. They are a common health problem that affects millions of people each year. Women are especially prone to UTIs. A UTI may affect

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

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

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) in Children What is hypoplastic left heart syndrome in children? Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a group of defects of the heart and large blood vessels. A child is born with this condition (congenital heart defect). It occurs when

Conjunctivitis in Children What is conjunctivitis in children? Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the eye. Conjunctivitis is also known as “pink eye” because the eye

Anemia in Children What is anemia in children? Anemia is a common problem in children. About 20% of children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with anemia at some point. A child who has anemia doesn't have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a type of protein that

Craniopharyngioma in Children What is craniopharyngioma in children? Craniopharyngioma is a brain tumor that’s not cancer (benign). A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. The brain is part of the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS also includes the spinal

Rett Syndrome in Children What is Rett syndrome in children? Rett syndrome is a rare genetic developmental and neurological disorder. It almost exclusively affects girls. Children with this disorder often develop normally for their first 6 to 18 months. After that, they start to

High Blood Pressure in Children and Teens What is high blood pressure in children? Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure: Systolic pressure. This is the higher number. It refers to the