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Apnea of Prematurity What is apnea of prematurity? Apnea is a term that means breathing has stopped for more than 20 seconds. It can happen in full-term babies, but it's more common in premature babies. The more premature the baby, the greater the chances that apnea will occur

Cystic Fibrosis and the Digestive System How does CF affect the digestive system? Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) have a protein in their cells that doesn't work right. The protein is called CFTR (the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator). CFTR controls the flow of water

Craniosynostosis What is craniosynostosis? The skull is made up of 8 bones and joints where the bones of the skull meet (sutures). These sutures allow the skull to grow as an infant grows and develops. Over time, the sutures close and the bones fuse together. This forms the skull

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

Psychological Complications of Chronic Illness Being a teen is stressful even for physically healthy teens. Chronic illness at this age can complicate development. The illness, treatment, and hospital stays all magnify concerns about how a teen looks. They also interfere with

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

About the Heart and Blood Vessels The heart is the hardest working muscle in the human body. Located almost in the center of the chest, a healthy adult heart is the size of a clenched adult fist. By age 70, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times. The heart is

Arrhythmias in Children What are arrhythmias in children? An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. When a child has an arrhythmia, abnormal electrical signals sent through the heart muscle may cause the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or in an

Aortic Stenosis in Children What is aortic stenosis in children? Aortic stenosis means that your child has a heart valve that is too narrow or is blocked. The aortic valve is 1 of 4 heart valves that keep blood flowing through the heart. The valves make sure blood flows in only

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