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Encephalitis in Children What is encephalitis in children? Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. The inflammation causes the brain to swell. This leads to changes in a child's nervous system that can include confusion, changes in alertness, and seizures. Meningitis often

Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Children What is Guillain-Barré syndrome in children? Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a short-term but often life-threatening disorder that affects the nerves in the body. GBS can cause muscle weakness, pain, and short-term (temporary) paralysis of the

Testicular Torsion in Children What is testicular torsion in children? Testicular torsion is a painful twisting of the testicles and spermatic cord. The spermatic cord is a set of nerves, ducts, and blood vessels that leads from the groin to the testicles. Torsion can happen to 1

Preventing Falls in Children Falls are the most common cause of injury visits to the emergency room for young children. Falls cause more open wounds, fractures, and brain injuries than any other cause. Most falls happen at home. But the playground is another spot for spills

Genetic Disorders Associated with Congenital Heart Disease Click on the links below to learn more about these topics. Down Syndrome Marfan Syndrome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome© 2000-2025 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a

Anomalous Coronary Artery in Children What is an ACA in a child? An anomalous coronary artery (ACA) is a heart defect. This is something your baby is born with (congenital). In ACA, the blood vessels that supply blood to your child’s heart muscle aren’t normal. In some cases, the

Failure to Thrive (FTT) in Children What is failure to thrive in children? Failure to thrive (FTT) is slow physical development in a baby or child. It’s caused by a baby or child not having enough nutrition. FTT is a clinical observation, not a diagnosis. It is used to describe a

Hypospadias in Children What is hypospadias in children? Hypospadias is a problem where the opening of the urethra is not at the tip of the penis. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. With hypospadias, the end of the tube is

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