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Fever in Children What is a fever? Most healthcare providers define a fever as a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher when taken rectally or 100°F (37.8°C) or higher when taken by mouth. You might get slightly different numbers depending on how you take your child's

Polio (Poliomyelitis) What is polio? Poliomyelitis is commonly called polio. It's an infectious disease. It is caused by 1 of 3 types of poliovirus. Polio is easily spread from person to person. The poliovirus is a virus that can cause paralysis. But most people who are infected

Chickenpox What is chickenpox? Chickenpox is a common childhood disease. It causes an itchy, blistering rash and is easily spread to others. Until the varicella vaccine for chickenpox became available in 1995, chickenpox infection was very common. Almost everyone had been

Blood Clotting Disorders in Children What are blood-clotting disorders in children? Blood-clotting disorders are a group of conditions in which there is too much clotting. Blood clotting is a normal process. It stops you from bleeding too much when you have a cut or injury. Blood

What Are Red Blood Cells? Red blood cells carry fresh oxygen all over the body. This is important to your health. Red blood cells are round with a flattish, indented center, like doughnuts without a hole. Your healthcare provider can check on the size, shape, and health of your

Older Adults: Preventing Falls Every year, millions of older adults fall, leading to injuries and emergency room visits. Many of these falls and injuries can be prevented. Most falls happen at home. Taking certain safety measures can prevent many falls. Facts about falls Here are

Hydrocele in Children What is a hydrocele in children? A hydrocele is fluid buildup in the thin pouch that holds the testes in the scrotum. Up to 1 in 10 baby boys have a hydrocele at birth. In most cases, it goes away without treatment in the first year. What causes a hydrocele

Fire Safety and Burns Overview What are the different types of burns? A burn injury usually results from an energy transfer from a heat source to the body. There are many types of burns caused by thermal, radiation, chemical, friction, or electrical contact. Thermal burns are

Growth Problems in Children What are growth problems in children? A growth problem means that a child falls either below or above the average range of growth for a child's age, sex, family history, or racial background. What causes growth problems in a child? Growth disorders can

Actinic Keratosis What is actinic keratosis? Actinic keratosis (AK) is a rough, scaly spot or bump on sun-exposed skin. Most people with AK have more than one spot. AK is the most common precancer of the skin. Over time, it can develop into squamous cell skin cancer. Most