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Syncope in Children What is syncope in children? Syncope is a brief loss of consciousness and muscle tone (or posture) that can occur when not enough blood gets to the brain. Syncope is commonly called fainting. In most children, it’s usually harmless. But in a few children

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) What is tetralogy of Fallot? Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a set of 4 congenital heart defects that happen together. Tetralogy refers to the number 4. Congenital means that a baby is born with them. The set of 4 defects are: Narrowing (stenosis) of the

Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) in Children What is transposition of the great arteries in children? Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a type of heart defect that your baby is born with (congenital). In this condition, the two arteries that carry blood out of

Encephalitis in Children What is encephalitis in children? Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. The inflammation causes the brain to swell. This leads to changes in a child's nervous system that can include confusion, changes in alertness, and seizures. Meningitis often

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

Lyme Disease in Children What is Lyme disease in children? Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria are spread by tick bites. Lyme disease is a year-round problem, but it peaks during the spring and summer months. It can cause

Kidney Failure What is kidney failure? Kidney failure happens when damage results in loss of normal kidney function. There are 2 types of kidney failure—acute and chronic. Acute kidney failure starts abruptly. It can sometimes be reversed. Chronic kidney failure progresses slowly

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) What is a ventricular septal defect? A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart defect. This means that your baby is born with it. A VSD is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the 2 lower chambers of the heart (right and left

Scoliosis in Children What is scoliosis in children? Scoliosis is a deformity of the backbone (spine). It’s when the spine has a side-to-side curve. The curve of the spine measures 10 degrees or more. A normal spine appears straight when looked at from behind. But a child with

Dyskeratosis Congenita in Children What is dyskeratosis congenita in children? Dyskeratosis congenita is a congenital disease. This means it's present at birth. It's a very rare condition. It affects the skin and nails. In its most severe form, it causes bone marrow failure. When