Search Results

Chronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis What is cirrhosis? Cirrhosis is when scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. This stops the liver from working normally. Cirrhosis is a long-term (chronic) liver disease. The damage to your liver builds up over time. The liver is your body's

Common Variable Immunodeficiency in Children What is common variable immunodeficiency in children? Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is an immunodeficiency problem that causes a child to have a low level of antibodies and a decreased responsiveness to some vaccines. This

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in Children What is toxic epidermal necrolysis in children? Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening skin disorder. It causes skin tissue to die, resulting in skin blistering and peeling. It's most often caused by a medicine reaction. A milder

For Parents: Bicycle, In-Line Skating, Skateboard, and Scooter Safety Safety statistics Bikes, in-line skating, skateboarding, and scooters are very popular among children between ages 5 and 14. These activities are a great form of exercise. But without protective gear, they can

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) in Children What is an atrial septal defect in children? The atrial septum is the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (right and left atria). An atrial septal defect (ASD) is an abnormal hole in this wall. ASD is a heart problem that is

The Child's Immune System What is the immune system? The immune system protects your child's body from outside invaders. This includes germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and toxins (chemicals made by microbes). The immune system is made up of different organs, cells

Newborn Screening Tests What are newborn screening tests? The United States has a national program of newborn screening tests. These check for health disorders that can be treated if they're found very early in life. If the screening test results are abnormal, it means more tests

Firearms Safety The importance of firearms safety About one-third of homes in the U.S. have some type of firearm. Access to firearms in the home raises the risk of unintentional firearm-related death and injury among children. Unintentional shootings cause a major portion of all

Work and Pregnancy Congratulations on your pregnancy! If you work, you might be wondering if you can continue working throughout your pregnancy. Many women do so without any problems. Pregnancy causes many changes in your body. Your ability to keep working depends on your overall

Cradle Cap What is cradle cap? Cradle cap (infant seborrheic dermatitis) is scaly patches on a baby's scalp. It isn't serious, but it can cause thick crusting and white or yellow scales. Some babies can also have seborrheic dermatitis in the diaper area or on the face, neck, and