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Whooping Cough (Pertussis) in Adults What is whooping cough (pertussis)? Whooping cough (pertussis) is a very contagious respiratory illness. It mainly affects babies and young children, but adults can also get it. Whooping cough caused thousands of deaths in the 1930s and 1940s

Leukemia in Children What is leukemia in children? Leukemia is cancer that starts in young (immature) blood cells. It’s the most common kind of cancer in children. The leukemia cells grow in bone marrow and then go out into the blood. The bone marrow is the soft, spongy center of

Occupational Lung Diseases What are work-related lung diseases? Work-related lung diseases are lung problems that are caused by certain work environments. They are caused by breathing materials into the lungs. These lung diseases may have lasting effects, even after the exposure

Kawasaki Disease in Children What is Kawasaki disease in children? Kawasaki disease is a rare illness that most commonly affects children ages 0 to 5, but it can sometimes affect children up to the age of 13. It is a type of vasculitis. Vasculitis means inflammation of the blood

HIV Home Care for a Child What is HIV? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS, which is advanced HIV disease. HIV infection may lead to the body's immune system not fighting off infections as well as it should. A child with HIV needs more care to remain

Herpes Simplex Virus (Cold Sores) in Children What are cold sores in children? Cold sores are small blisters around the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus. They are sometimes called fever blisters. What causes cold sores in a child? The most common cause of cold sores is

Thalassemia Click on the links below to learn more about this topic. Alpha Thalassemia Beta Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia)© 2000-2025 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your

Bipolar Disorder in Teens What is bipolar disorder in teens? Bipolar disorder is a type of depression. There are 3 main types of depression: Major depression (clinical depression) Bipolar disorder (manic depression) Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) A teen with bipolar

Rett Syndrome in Children What is Rett syndrome in children? Rett syndrome is a rare genetic developmental and neurological disorder. It almost exclusively affects girls. Children with this disorder often develop normally for their first 6 to 18 months. After that, they start to

Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy What is multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. MS is unpredictable. The symptoms of MS can range from mild to disabling, such as losing the