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Anencephaly in Children What is anencephaly in children? Anencephaly is a condition that is present at birth (birth defect). It affects the brain and skull bones. With this condition, the brain isn't fully formed. It often lacks part or all of the cerebrum. The cerebrum is the

Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Children What is spinal muscular atrophy in children? Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disease of the nerves and muscles caused by certain genes. It affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord. It causes muscle wasting and weakness. What causes

Overview of Obesity Facts about obesity Overweight and obesity together make up one of the leading preventable causes of death in the U.S. Obesity is a chronic disease that can seriously affect your health. Overweight means that you have extra body weight. Obesity means having a

Tricuspid Atresia What is tricuspid atresia? Tricuspid atresia (TA) is a heart defect present at birth (congenital). It occurs when the tricuspid valve doesn't form, or only partly forms. Normally the tricuspid valve is located between the right upper chamber (atrium) and the

Achondroplasia in Children What is achondroplasia in a child? Achondroplasia is the most common type of rare genetic bone disorder. The strong, flexible tissue called cartilage is not converted into bone as it is normally. This causes a series of signs, such as short arms and

Prematurity What is prematurity? A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered premature or born too early. Other terms used for prematurity are preterm and the nicknames "preemie" or "premie." About 1 in every 10 infants are born prematurely. Twins and other multiples

Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children What is autism spectrum disorder in children? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a problem that affects a child’s nervous system and growth and development. It often shows up during a child’s first 3 years of life. Some children with ASD seem

Labor What is labor? Labor is when the uterus contracts again and again to help the cervix open (dilate) and to thin (efface). The contractions get stronger with time. This causes the baby to move through the birth canal. Labor usually starts 2 weeks before or after the estimated

Cancer Overview What is cancer? Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells. The whole body is made of cells that act and grow in controlled ways as the body needs them. Cells are controlled by genes. The genes in any cell in the body can be damaged. Then the cell can grow out of

Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) in Children What is Down syndrome in children? Down syndrome is a genetic problem. It is also called trisomy 21. It includes certain birth defects, learning problems, and facial features. A child with Down syndrome also may have heart defects and