Search Results

Anaphylaxis in Children What is anaphylaxis in children? Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening reaction to an allergen. An allergen is something that your child is allergic to. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Your child can have a reaction to an allergen within seconds or

Congenital Hypothyroidism in Children What is congenital hypothyroidism? When the thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormone, it's called hypothyroidism. Congenital hypothyroidism is when the disorder is present in a baby at birth. If not treated, it can lead to serious

Skin Pigment Disorders What are skin pigment disorders? Skin color is determined by a pigment (melanin) made by specialized cells in the skin (melanocytes). The amount and type of melanin determines a person's skin color. What is the function of melanin? Melanin's role is to

Pulmonary Emphysema What is emphysema? Emphysema is a progressive chronic lung condition in which the tiny air sacs (alveoli) are damaged or destroyed. When this happens, it causes the tiny air sacs to rupture and create one big air pocket instead of many tiny ones. Air becomes

Bicycling, Inline Skating, Skateboarding, and Scooter Safety—Prevention Buying the right bike It's important that the bike your child rides is the right size. In addition, consider the following advice: The bike shouldn't be too big or complicated. Your child should be able to

Aplastic Anemia in Children What is aplastic anemia in children? Aplastic anemia is a serious condition in which the bone marrow doesn’t make enough new blood cells. With fewer blood cells, a child with aplastic anemia has: Less oxygen sent to organs, tissues, and cells from too

Food Allergies in Children What is food allergy in children? A food allergy is when your child’s body has a bad immune reaction to a certain food. This is different from a food intolerance, which does not affect the immune system. This is true even though some of the same signs

Appendicitis What is appendicitis? Appendicitis is a medical emergency. It happens when your appendix becomes sore, swollen, and diseased. The appendix is a thin tube that is joined to the large intestine. It sits in the lower right part of your belly (abdomen). The appendix is a

Chronic Bronchitis What is chronic bronchitis? Bronchitis is inflammation of the breathing tubes. These are the airways called bronchi. This inflammation causes too much mucus to be made and other changes. Bronchitis can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Chronic

Peyronie Disease What is Peyronie disease? Peyronie disease causes hard, flat plaque to form under the skin on the tissue of the penis. The plaque often starts as an inflammation that may turn into scar tissue. The plaque builds up inside the penis in the thick elastic membrane