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Newborn Screening Tests What are newborn screening tests? The United States has a national program of newborn screening tests. These check for health disorders that can be treated if they're found very early in life. If the screening test results are abnormal, it means more tests

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) in Children What is an atrial septal defect in children? The atrial septum is the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (right and left atria). An atrial septal defect (ASD) is an abnormal hole in this wall. ASD is a heart problem that is

The First Trimester The first prenatal visit The first prenatal visit is thorough. A doctor asks the parent-to-be about their health history and does a physical exam. Certain tests and procedures are also done to check the initial health of the parent and their unborn baby. The

Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy What is multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. MS is unpredictable. The symptoms of MS can range from mild to disabling, such as losing the

Chemotherapy for Children What is chemotherapy for a child? Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of medicines to treat cancer or kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy has been used for many years. It's one of the most common treatments for many types of cancer. The groups of cancer therapy

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

Stroke in Children What is stroke in children? A stroke is a brain injury. It occurs when blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain. Stroke can be caused by a blocked blood vessel (ischemic stroke). Or it can be caused by bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). The brain

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) in Children What is a ventricular septal defect? A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart defect. This means that your baby is born with it. A VSD is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the two lower chambers of the heart

Hydrocephalus What is hydrocephalus in children? A baby with hydrocephalus has extra fluid in and around the brain. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Most CSF is normally found in fluid-filled areas (ventricles) inside the brain. Its purpose is to cushion and

Caring for Someone with Alzheimer Disease Alzheimer disease is a type of dementia. Dementia is a condition that impairs a person's ability to think, concentrate, and remember (cognitive function). According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer disease accounts for the