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Scleroderma in Children What is scleroderma in children? Scleroderma is an ongoing (chronic) disease that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue. It can affect the joints, skin, cartilage, and internal organs. It is a rare degenerative disease and gets worse over time. There

Acute Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in Children What is acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in children? The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It sends instructions from the brain to the body and carries sensory information

High Blood Pressure in Children and Teens What is high blood pressure in children? Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure: Systolic pressure. This is the higher number. It refers to the

Epilepsy and Seizures in Children What is epilepsy in children? Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes a child to have recurring seizures over time. These seizures can't be linked to a short-term (acute) illness such as an infection, or a short-term injury such as a brain

Astrocytoma in Children What is an astrocytoma in children? An astrocytoma is a type of brain tumor. A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. The brain is part of the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS also includes the spinal cord. The main parts of the

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

Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA) in Children What is DBA in children? Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare blood disorder. Children with DBA don't make enough red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to all other cells in the body. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow, the

Hemolytic Anemia in Children What is hemolytic anemia in children? Hemolytic anemia is a group of disorders in which the red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can make them. The term for destruction of red blood cells is hemolysis. What causes hemolytic anemia

Osteoporosis What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a disease that causes weak, thinning bones. This puts the bones at greater risk of breaking. The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists. What causes osteoporosis? Researchers don't know the exact cause for

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