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Anomalous Coronary Artery in Children What is an ACA in a child? An anomalous coronary artery (ACA) is a heart defect. This is something your baby is born with (congenital). In ACA, the blood vessels that supply blood to your child’s heart muscle aren’t normal. In some cases, the

Persistent Depressive Disorder in Children What is persistent depressive disorder in children? Persistent depressive disorder is a type of depression. Depression affects a child’s body, mood, and thoughts. It can disturb eating, sleeping, or thinking patterns. It's not the same

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

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

Coronary Heart Disease What is coronary heart disease? Coronary heart disease happens when the innermost layer of the coronary arteries becomes inflamed and narrowed. This is caused by a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque. These deposits may start in childhood and continue

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis What is juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a form of arthritis in children. Arthritis causes joint swelling (inflammation) and joint stiffness. JIA is arthritis that affects 1 or more joints for at least 6 weeks in

HIV AIDS What is HIV/AIDS? The term AIDS refers to the most advanced stages of an infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The current definition of AIDS includes: All HIV-infected people who have fewer than 200 CD4+ T cells (also called T4 cells). These cells

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in Children What is IBS in children? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term (chronic) disorder that affects the intestine. IBS causes painful belly (abdominal) and bowel symptoms. With IBS, the colon appears normal. But pain and a change in

Vulvitis What is vulvitis? Vulvitis is an inflammation of the vulva, the soft folds of skin outside the vagina. It’s a symptom that can result from an array of diseases. This can include infections, injuries, allergies, or irritants. Because it can be challenging to find the

Birth Defects in Children What is a birth defect in a child? A birth defect (congenital anomaly) is a health problem or abnormal physical change that is present when a baby is born. Birth defects can be very mild, where the baby looks and acts like any other baby. Or birth