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Common Liver Tests What are some common liver tests? A series of blood tests can often find out if the liver is inflamed, injured, or working normally. The pattern of abnormalities can point to hepatitis (infection or inflammation of the liver) versus cholestasis (problems with

Smoking and Heart Disease The American Heart Association (AHA) says diseases caused by smoking kill more than 440,000 people in the U.S. each year. Most new smokers are children and teens. Smokers have a higher risk for lung disease and other respiratory problems, such as

Major Depression in Adolescents and Teens What is major depression? Major depression, also known as clinical depression or unipolar depression, is classified as a type of affective disorder (also called mood disorder) that goes beyond the day's ordinary ups and downs, and has

Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children, Adolescents and Teens What is ADHD? ADHD, also called attention-deficit disorder, is a behavior disorder, usually first diagnosed in childhood, that is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and, in some cases

Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescents and Teens What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa (AN), a form of self-starvation, is an eating disorder characterized by a distorted body image that leads to restricted eating and other behavior that prevents a person from gaining weight

Scars What is a scar? A scar is the body's natural way of healing and replacing lost or damaged skin. A scar is often made of fibrous tissue. Scars may be formed for many different reasons. They may be due to infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue. Scars may

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

Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis (JAS) in Children What is juvenile ankylosing spondylitis in children? Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis. It affects the spine and the places where the muscles, tendons, and ligaments attach to the bone. Ankylosing means stiff

Viral Hepatitis Overview What is hepatitis? Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The liver is located in the upper right part of the belly (abdomen). Hepatitis can be caused by a virus that leads to damage of liver cells. Hepatitis has 2 types: Acute hepatitis. This type

Juvenile Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases What are juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases in children? Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that causes pain and swelling. Juvenile arthritis is the term used for arthritis in children. The most common form of