Health Library A to Z
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Blood in the Eye (Hyphema) in Children
Hyphema is blood in the front (anterior) chamber of the eye. This is located between the clear front part of the eye (cornea) and the colored part of the eye (iris). Read on to learn more about what to do when your child has blood in their eye.
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Childproof Your Home for Poisons
Always remember that ordinary products you use each day around the home can become dangerous poisons in the hands of a child. Here's what you should know.
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Contact Lens Safety Tips
If you wear contact lenses, it's important to follow your eye care provider's directions on wearing and disinfecting them.
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Coping Emotionally After a Burn
Your child's burn care and emotional recovery will continue when you leave the hospital. Along with the excitement, you and your child may also feel uneasy about what will happen next.
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Crutch Walking
Step-by-step tips to help your child learn to use crutches, including going up and down stairs, sitting and standing up, and more.
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Flossing and Children
Flossing should be started when your child is about 2 to 3 years old, under the direction of your child's dentist. Read on for helpful tips, including step-by-step flossing directions.
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Glasses Can Help Even Young Children
Healthcare providers who specialize in children's eye care say children usually become nearsighted or farsighted between ages 6 and 12. But even infants can wear glasses if they need help to see well.
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Haemophilus Influenzae Infections in Children
Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) is a group of bacteria that can cause different types of infections in babies and children. H. influenzae most often cause ear, eye, or sinus infections. They also cause pneumonia.
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Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib)
Haemophilus influenzae type b is a serious bacterial disease that usually strikes children younger than 5. It is spread from person-to-person by coughing and sneezing.
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Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Children
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is an illness caused by a virus. It causes a rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It can also occur in the diaper area, and on the legs and arms.
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Head Injury in Children
A head injury can be as mild as a bump, bruise (contusion), or cut on the head. Or it can be a concussion, a deep cut or open wound, broken skull bones, internal bleeding, or damage to the brain. Head injuries are one of the most common causes of disability and death in children.
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Head Lice in Children
Head lice are tiny parasitic bugs that can infest the skin. They live on people’s heads and feed on their blood. Head lice can cause intense itching.
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Headaches in Children
A headache is pain or discomfort in one or more areas of the head or face. Headaches can happen once in a while. Or they may happen often.
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Healthy Diets Overview
Eating healthy is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and is something that should be taught to children at a young age.
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Healthy Sleep Habits in Children
The normal amount of sleep varies depending on the age of your child. Read on for helpful tips to create healthy sleep habits, plus a chart of normal day and night sleep times by age.
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Hearing Aids for Children
Hearing aids can help improve hearing and speech, especially in children with hearing loss in the inner ear caused by damaged hair cells or a damaged hearing nerve. Read on to learn about the types of hearing aids available, and what to think about before buying one.
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Hearing Loss in Babies
Hearing loss in babies is rare in this country. But when it does happen, it's important to diagnose it early. Undetected hearing loss can delay speech and language development.
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Heart Failure in Children
Heart failure is when the heart can't pump enough blood to the body. In children, it is often caused by a congenital heart defect.
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Heart Murmurs in Children
Heart murmurs are extra or unusual sounds made by blood moving through the heart. Many children have heart murmurs. Some cause no problems or go away over time. Others need treatment.
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Heart Transplant for Children
A heart transplant is a surgery to replace a diseased heart with a healthy one from an organ donor. This topic describes the transplant surgery for children and what to expect from it.
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Helicobacter Pylori in Children
H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a spiral-shaped germ (bacteria) that infects the stomach. It can damage the tissue in your child’s stomach and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). This can cause redness and swelling (inflammation). It may also cause painful sores called peptic ulcers in the upper digestive tract.
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Helping Kids Cope with a Divorce
Anger, fear, separation anxiety, a sense of abandonment, self-blame, sadness, and embarrassment are common reactions to divorce for most children.
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Helping Kids Get Over their Fears
Studies indicate that almost all children report having fears. Some of the most common fears are of bugs or ghosts, and studies have shown that kids are afraid of pretty much the same things no matter where they live in the world.
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Helping Teens Embrace Self-Care
Before your teens leave home, teach them to make their own healthcare decisions. One way is to provide information and include them in their own self-care from an early age.
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Hemifacial Microsomia (HFM) in Children
Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is a congenital disorder. This means that your child is born with it. In this condition, one side of your baby’s face is underdeveloped (hemi means half). HFM usually only affects one side of the face. Sometimes both sides may be affected.
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Hemolytic Anemia in Children
Hemolytic anemia is a group of disorders in which the red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can make them. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN)
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a blood problem in newborns. It occurs when your baby's red blood cells break down at a fast rate. It’s also called erythroblastosis fetalis.
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Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Children
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare condition that can lead to kidney failure. The syndrome harms the small structures and vessels inside the kidneys. HUS causes red blood cells to clog the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys. It may cause damage to the kidney tissues.
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Hemophilia
Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder. People with hemophilia can’t stop bleeding because they don’t have enough clotting factor in their blood. Clotting factors are needed for blood to clot. Blood clots to prevent excessive bleeding.
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Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in Children
An infant or young child who contracts hepatitis B is at greater risk of staying infected with the virus and of having lifelong liver problems, such as scarring of the liver and liver cancer.
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Hepatoblastoma in Children
Hepatoblastoma is a very rare cancer. It’s a tumor that starts in the liver. The cancer cells are similar to fetal liver cells. It usually affects children less than 3 to 4 years of age.
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Herpangina in Children
Herpangina is a very common illness in children. It causes small blisterlike bumps or sores (ulcers) in the mouth.
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Herpes Simplex Virus (Cold Sores) in Children
Cold sores are small blisters around the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once a child is infected with the virus, the virus becomes inactive (dormant) for long periods of time. It can then become active at any time and cause cold sores.
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High Blood Pressure in Children and Teens
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. High blood pressure (hypertension) means that the pressure inside the arteries is too high. This higher pressure may harm the arteries and cause the heart to work harder.
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High-Risk Newborn Blood Disorders
Detailed information on blood disorders that place a newborn at higher risk and require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional
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Hirschsprung Disease in Children
Hirschsprung disease is a rare birth defect. It affects the nerve cells in the large intestine. These nerve cells control the muscles that move food and waste, or stool, through the large intestine. The large intestine is the last part of the digestive tract.
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HIV/AIDS and Pregnancy
A mother with HIV can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding.
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Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children
Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It helps to fight diseases and infections. The lymphatic system also helps with balancing fluids in different parts of the body.
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Holter Monitoring for Children
Holter monitoring is a way to continuously check the electrical activity of the heart. Your child will wear a small device called a Holter monitor for at least 24 to 48 hours. The device constantly checks your child's heart during this time.
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Home Page - Adolescent Medicine
Detailed information on adolescent medicine, including growth and development, cognitive development, relationship development, health and injury problems, and safety
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Home Page - Burns
Detailed information on burns, including anatomy, classification, treatment, and prevention
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Home Page - Craniofacial Anomalies
Detailed information on craniofacial anomalies, including Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, Craniosynostosis, Deformational Plagiocephaly, Hemifacial Microsomia, Vascular Malformations, and Hemangiomas
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Home Page - Hematology and Blood Disorders in Children
Detailed information on blood disorders, including Anemia, Aplastic Anemia, Hemolytic Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Megaloblastic Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Alpha Thalassemia, Beta Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia)
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Home Page - Medical Genetics
Detailed information on medical genetics, including chromosome abnormalities, single gene defects, multifactorial inheritance, teratogens, and non-traditional inheritance
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How the Liver Works
Detailed information on how the liver works, including a full-color, labeled illustration of the digestive system
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How to Bathe Your Baby
As a new parent, you may find "tub time" a bit scary. Here are some suggestions on how to make it less stressful.
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How to Let Go of Growing Kids
It's very important for your children to move from being teenagers to young adults in a way that is healthy for them—and for you. Read on for helpful advice.
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How to Use a Pacifier
It seems everyone has an opinion about pacifiers. That's because there are both advantages and disadvantages to using them. Get the full facts so you can make the right choice for your baby.
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Human Parainfluenza Viruses (HPIVs) in Children
Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are a group of viruses that cause different types of respiratory infections. They are more common in children and babies. But they can occur in people of any age, especially those with a weak immune system.
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Hydrocele in Children
A hydrocele is fluid buildup in the thin pouch that holds the testes in the scrotum. Up to 1 in 10 baby boys have a hydrocele at birth. In most cases, it goes away without treatment in the first year.
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Hydrocephalus
A baby with hydrocephalus has extra fluid around the brain. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Too much CSF can increase the pressure in your baby’s head. This causes the bones in your baby’s skull to expand and separate. The baby's head may look larger than normal.
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Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn
Hyperbilirubinemia happens when there is too much bilirubin in your baby’s blood. Bilirubin is made by the breakdown of red blood cells. It’s hard for babies to get rid of bilirubin. It can build up in their blood, tissues, and fluids.
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Hypocalcemia in the Newborn
Hypocalcemia is when a person doesn't have enough calcium in the blood. In babies, it’s called neonatal hypocalcemia. Your baby can get it at different times and from different causes.
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Hypoglycemia in a Newborn Baby
Hypoglycemia is when the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood is too low. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the brain and the body. In a newborn baby, low blood sugar can happen for many reasons. It can cause problems such as shakiness, blue color to the skin, and breathing and feeding problems. Read on to learn more.
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Hypoglycemia in Children
Hypoglycemia is when the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood is too low. Hypoglycemia can be a condition by itself. Or it can be a complication of diabetes or other disorder. Read on to learn more.
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Hypoparathyroidism in Children
Hypoparathyroidism is when the parathyroid glands don’t make enough parathyroid hormone. The parathyroid glands are 4 tiny glands on the thyroid. The hormone they make helps manage levels of calcium in the bloodstream. Low levels of the hormone leads to low levels of calcium. This can lead to muscle spasms and cramping, called tetany.
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Hypopituitarism in Children
Hypopituitarism means that the pituitary gland is not working normally. The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain. It’s the master endocrine gland in the body. The pituitary gland normally releases as many as 8 different hormones. These hormones control growth, metabolism, blood pressure, and other body processes. The effects of hypopituitarism may be slow over time. Or they may be sudden.
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Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) in Children
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a group of defects of the heart and large blood vessels. A child is born with this condition (congenital heart defect). It occurs when part of the heart doesn't develop as it should during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy.
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Hypospadias in Children
Hypospadias is a problem where the opening of the urethra is not at the tip of the penis. With hypospadias, the end of the tube is lower down on the underside of the penis. Or it may be in the scrotum.
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Moving Your Toddler from Crib to Bed
Moving your child from the crib to a first bed is a milestone event. But more than the bittersweet emotional concerns, your priorities will be safety and a healthy sleep routine.
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Preparing Siblings for Surgery
When your child goes to the hospital, brothers and sisters may feel afraid, worried, or confused. They're often afraid simply because they don't know what to expect, and they may imagine the worst. Here's what you can do to help.
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Preparing the Teen for Surgery
Allow your teen to be part of the decision-making process. Encourage them to make a list of questions to ask the healthcare providers.
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Preschooler Nutrition
Preschool children are still developing their eating habits and need encouragement to eat healthy meals and snacks.
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Prevention of Heart Disease Starts in Childhood
You may think of heart disease as a problem for adults, not your young children. But diet and exercise habits started in childhood can begin a lifetime of heart health, or a lifetime of heart damage.
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Put Peer Pressure in Its Place
During the teen years, peer pressure can be very strong. It can push kids to do things that they don't really want to do. This pressure can come from friends or other kids at school. But parents can counter it, if they're ready to help.
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Safety for You and Your Child
You can help your child by being prepared and preventing injuries from happening. It is important to take charge of your child's health and follow a program designed to help you and your family stay healthy and safe.
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Sleep and Your Child
Without enough shut-eye, children are more likely to struggle with their school studies, do poorly on the playing field, and suffer depression.
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Stop Dating Abuse Before It Starts
Teen dating violence is worrisome. But it's not inevitable. Here's how you and your teen can prevent possibly unsafe situations and reduce the risk for problems.
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Styes in Children
A stye is a sore red bump on the edge of the eyelid. Styes are one of the most common eye problems in children. Here's what you should know.
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Toddler Nutrition
Read on to learn about healthy food choices, activity tips, and helpful feeding information for your toddler.
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Treatment for Human Bites
Human bite wounds are more likely to become infected than dog or cat bites. A healthcare provider should check any human bite that breaks the skin.
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Urticaria (Hives) in Children
Hives is a sudden outbreak of red, itchy, and swollen areas on the skin. It often happens as an allergic reaction from eating certain foods or taking certain medicines. Here's what you should know.