Search Results

Congenital Hypothyroidism in Children What is congenital hypothyroidism? When the thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormone, it's called hypothyroidism. Congenital hypothyroidism is when the disorder is present in a baby at birth. If not treated, it can lead to serious

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

Precocious Puberty What is precocious puberty? Puberty that happens early is called precocious puberty. This means a child's physical signs of sexual maturity develop too soon. This includes breast growth, pubic hair, and voice changes. These are known as secondary sexual

Sepsis in the Newborn What is newborn sepsis? Newborn sepsis is a severe infection in an infant younger than 28 days old. The infection is in your baby’s blood. But it may affect any body system or the whole body. What causes newborn sepsis? Newborn sepsis is most often caused by

Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18 in Children What are trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 in children? Trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 are genetic problems. They involve a combination of different birth defects. These include severe learning problems and health problems that affect nearly every organ

Turner Syndrome (Monosomy X) in Children What is Turner syndrome (TS) in children? Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic disorder that occurs in girls. It causes many traits and problems. Girls with TS are shorter than most girls. They don’t go through normal puberty as they grow

Thyroid Conditions Click on the links below to learn more about these topics. Hyperthyroidism Hypothyroidism Postpartum Thyroiditis© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always

Medical Genetics: Types of Genetic Changes The human body has about 20,000 different genes in each cell. Genes are located on chromosomes, which are stick-shaped structures in the middle of the cell (nucleus). Each cell usually has 46 chromosomes grouped in 23 pairs. Each gene

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

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