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Short Bowel Syndrome in Children What is short bowel syndrome in children? Short bowel syndrome is when the body has trouble absorbing nutrients from food because of a problem with the small intestine. It often happens to children who have had a large part of their small

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

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) What is PDA? Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a heart defect found in the days or weeks after birth. The ductus arteriosus is a normal blood vessel that's part of fetal blood circulation before a baby is born. It’s an extra blood vessel that

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

Spina Bifida in Children What is spina bifida in children? Spina bifida is a condition present at birth (birth defect) when there are problems with the spine, spinal cord, and the surrounding nerves. It can cause part of the spinal cord and areas around it to form outside of the

Encopresis What is encopresis? Encopresis is when your child leaks stool into their underwear. It's also called stool soiling. It's most often because of long-term (chronic) constipation. Encopresis happens to children ages 4 and older who have already been toilet trained. In

Kidney Transplantation in Children What is a kidney transplant? A kidney transplant is surgery to place a healthy kidney from another person into someone with severe kidney problems. The healthy kidney may come from 2 types of donors: Deceased donor. This is an organ donor who

Allergens: Dust and Dust Mites What are dust allergens? Dust allergens are substances found in dust. They may include: Fabric fibers Lint Feathers Stuffing materials Animal protein (dander, saliva, urine, and body oils) Bacteria Mold and fungus spores Food particles Plants

Air Pollution What is air pollution? Air pollution is when harmful substances are in the air that we breathe. National agencies and organizations report that: Air pollution comes from many sources. Some of these include industrial operations. Other sources are stationary fuel

Allergens: Animals What is an animal allergen? Allergens found in animals are a common cause of allergic reactions. They are caused by the proteins found in an animal's: Skin (dander) Saliva Urine Household pets such as cats and dogs are the most common sources of animal