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Pulmonary Emphysema What is emphysema? Emphysema is a progressive chronic lung condition in which the tiny air sacs (alveoli) are damaged or destroyed. When this happens, it causes the tiny air sacs to rupture and create one big air pocket instead of many tiny ones. Air becomes

Pulmonary Atresia What is pulmonary atresia? Pulmonary atresia (PA) is a heart defect. It happens when the baby's heart doesn’t form as it should in the uterus. This can happen during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. PA is a problem with the opening of the pulmonary valve. This

Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy in Children What is Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy in children? Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is one of the muscular dystrophies. These are a group of rare, inherited muscle diseases (myopathies). EDMD causes weakness in your child

Osteogenesis Imperfecta in Children What is osteogenesis imperfecta in children? Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare inherited (genetic) bone disorder that is present at birth. It's also known as brittle bone disease. A child born with OI may have soft bones that break

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

Planning a Pregnancy If you're planning to become pregnant, taking certain steps can help reduce risks for both you and your baby. Good health before deciding to become pregnant is almost as important as a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. The first few weeks of pregnancy are

Infectious Mononucleosis What is infectious mononucleosis (mono)? Infectious mononucleosis is a type of infection. It causes swollen lymph glands, fever, sore throat, and often extreme fatigue. It’s often spread through contact with infected saliva from the mouth. Symptoms can

Cleft Lip and Palate in Children What are cleft lip and cleft palate in children? Cleft lip and palate are openings or splits in the upper lip or roof of the mouth (palate). A child can be born with a cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. Cleft lip and palate may be the only birth

Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Children What is iron-deficiency anemia in children? Anemia is a common health problem in children. The most common cause of anemia is not getting enough iron. A child who's anemic doesn't have enough red blood cells or enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a

Chronic Bronchitis What is chronic bronchitis? Bronchitis is inflammation of the breathing tubes. These are the airways called bronchi. This inflammation causes too much mucus to be made and other changes. Bronchitis can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Chronic