Health Library A to Z

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• Lacerations (Cuts) Without Stitches in Children
A laceration (cut) is a tear or opening in the skin caused by an injury. Some lacerations are small and need only minor treatment at home.

• Lacerations with Stitches and Adhesive Strips
Stitches, also called sutures, are special types of thread that hold the edges of a wound together while it heals.

• Lactose Intolerance in Children
Lactose intolerance is when the body can’t easily break down or digest lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and milk products.

• Large for Gestational Age
Large for gestational age is used to describe newborn babies who weigh more than the usual amount for the number of weeks of pregnancy. Babies are called large for gestational age if they weigh more than 9 in 10 babies of the same gestational age.

• Lead Poisoning in Children
Lead poisoning is a totally preventable disease. Children ages 1 to 3 who live in low-income housing built before 1978 are especially at risk. Read on to learn more.

• Learning Disorders in Children
A learning disorder is when a child has trouble learning in certain school subjects. Your child may have problems with reading, math, or writing. Here's what you need to know, and how to help.

• Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease in Children
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (or Perthes disease) is a rare hip condition that affects children.

• Leukemia in Children
Leukemia is cancer of the blood. It’s the most common form of cancer in childhood. The cancer cells grow in bone marrow and go into the blood.

• Lifestyle Changes Can Help Kids Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Parents can do a lot to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in their kids, even if the parents already have it.

• Liver Transplant for Children
A liver transplant is surgery to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from another person.

• Living With Congenital Heart Disease
Detailed information for children living with a congenital heart disease

• Lordosis in Children
Lordosis is a deformity of the backbone (spine). It's when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) in the lower back curve inward more than normal.

• Low Birth Weight
Low birth weight is a term used to describe babies who are born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams). An average newborn usually weighs about 8 pounds. A low-birth-weight baby may be healthy even though they are small. But a low-birth-weight baby can also have many serious health problems.

• Lower Respiratory Disorders
Detailed information on lower respiratory disorders in children

• Lying and Stealing
Lying and stealing are common, but inappropriate, behaviors in school-aged children. Most of the time these behaviors will be outgrown. Here's what you should know.

• Lyme Disease in Children
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria are usually spread by tick bites. Lyme disease is a year-round problem, but it peaks during the spring and summer months.

• Lymphadenopathy in Children
Lymphadenopathy means swelling of the lymph nodes or glands. Lymphadenopathy can occur in just one area of the body, such as the neck. Or it may affect lymph nodes throughout the body. The cervical lymph nodes, found in the neck, are the most common site of lymphadenopathy.

• Lymphatic Malformations in Children
A lymphatic malformation is a lymphatic vessel that isn't formed correctly. The vessel traps the lymph fluid and causes cysts to form. Your child may have 1 or more of these cysts.

• Lymphatic Masses
Detailed information on lymphatic masses in children

• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in Children
Non-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.

• Parents: Check Toys for Lead
You may have heard reports about lead paint causing recalls of children’s toys. While federal officials and health experts work to fix the problem, what can you do to keep your kids safe? First, you can check your child's toys against those listed as being recalled due to lead issues.

• Protect Kids from Lead Poisoning
Although lead poisoning is often associated with the paint of older homes, children may be exposed to lead if the soldering on water pipes is new. In fact, lead may be found in many parts of a home, including soil, food, or even the air.

• Protein Restriction for Children
Detailed information on limiting protein in your child's diet, when your child has kidney failure.

• Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture) for Children
A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is a test that checks the health of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is a fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The test also measures the pressure in the spinal canal.

• Tests for a Newborn Baby in Intensive Care
Babies in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) undergo regular testing so they get the important care they need. Here are several common lab tests. Ask your baby's healthcare provider about them.