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The Child's Immune System What is the immune system? The immune system protects your child's body from outside invaders. This includes germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and toxins (chemicals made by microbes). The immune system is made up of different organs, cells

Knee Pain and Problems Brief anatomy of the knee The knee is a vulnerable joint. It bears a great deal of stress from everyday activities, such as lifting and kneeling, and from high-impact activities, such as jogging and aerobics. The knee is formed by these parts: Tibia. This

Safer Sex Guidelines What is safe sex? Having sex with only one partner who only has sex with you when neither of you has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is believed to be safe. But many health care professionals believe that the only way to be truly safe is not to have

The First Trimester The first prenatal visit The first prenatal visit is the most thorough. A healthcare provider asks the parent-to-be about their health history and does a physical exam. Certain tests and procedures are also done to check the initial health of the parent and

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

Water Safety for Parents The importance of water safety Most drownings happen in residential swimming pools. But children can drown in just 1 inch of water (such as in buckets, bathtubs, wading pools, diaper pails, toilets, hot tubs, and spas). In addition, open waters, such as

Clubfoot in Children What is clubfoot in children? Clubfoot is a deformity of the foot. It’s when one or both feet are turned inward. The condition affects the bones, muscles, tendons, and blood vessels. Clubfoot is present at birth. It tends to affect more boys than girls. What

Open Neural Tube Defects (ONTDs) in Children What are open neural tube defects in children? Open neural tube defects (ONTDs) are problems with the way the brain, spinal cord, or spine forms while a baby is growing in the pregnant person’s uterus. These problems occur in about 1

Sexually Transmitted Infections in Teens What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infectious diseases spread through sexual contact. About 50 out of 100 new STIs happen in people ages 15 to 24. Protecting your teen from STIs The

Graves Disease in Children What is Graves disease in children? Graves disease is an autoimmune disease. The immune system normally protects the body from infection and disease with proteins called antibodies. But with an autoimmune disease, the antibodies attack the body's own