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Introduction to anemia: Blood is a straw-colored liquid packed with red blood cells (that deliver oxygen to the body), white blood cells (that provide protection from infections), and platelets (little clumps that help the blood clot when needed). The red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to every part of the body. They also [...]

Introduction to amblyopia: Sometimes even children with perfect eyes can’t see well. How can this be? What is amblyopia? Practice makes perfect. Young eyes need practice in order for mature vision to develop in the brain. For this to happen, a clear image of the world needs to land on the retina and be transmitted [...]

Related concepts: Nasal allergies, Allergic rhinitis, Hay fever, Seasonal allergic rhinitis, Perennial allergic rhinitis, Pollen allergy, House dust allergy, Pet allergies, Mold allergies Introduction to allergies: Children with allergies tend to get more ear infections, more colds, and have more sleepless nights than their peers. Far too often, the underlying allergies are missed and children [...]

Related concepts: Droplet transmission, Fecal–oral transmission, Contact transmission, Body-fluid transmission. Introduction: Sometimes your child can get sick just from being in the same room as someone else who is ill. Understanding how diseases can spread makes them easier to prevent. What is it? Airborne transmission occurs when bacteria or viruses travel on dust particles or [...]

Related concepts: Pharyngoconjunctival Fever Introduction to adenovirus: Most parents haven’t heard of adenovirus, but most children get it several times – especially in the first 2 years of life. What is adenovirus? Adenoviruses are very common viruses that can cause infections in children. There are over fifty subtypes of adenovirus. They most commonly cause upper [...]

Related concepts: Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD, Hyperactivity Introduction to ADHD: Over-diagnosed? Under-diagnosed? Probably both – and certainly real. ADHD affects children’s school performance and their relationships with others. Parents who are wondering if their children have ADHD are often exhausted and frustrated. What is ADHD? ADHD is a problem with inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity, or some [...]

Related concepts: Achromatopsia, protanopia, deuteranopia, red-green colorblindness Introduction to colorblindness: The dazzling experience of color begins when light strikes a canvas of tightly packed nerve cells in the back of the eye. These rods and cones, as they are commonly called, fire a storm of nerve impulses in response to the light, which then travel [...]

Related Concepts: Anal stenosis, Imperforate anus, Recto-urethral fistula, Rectovesical fistula. Introduction to anorectal malformations: Very early in development, the urinary tract, rectum, and anus are all part of the same structure. They separate by the seventh week of a gestation. At the time of separation, the urinary tract already has an opening on the skin, [...]

Related concepts: Acute appendicitis Introduction to appendicitis: Appendicitis is the most common cause of emergency abdominal surgery in children. What is appendicitis? The appendix is a small, hollow, worm-shaped tube that attaches to the large intestine. Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix; the appendix becomes hot, red, tender, and swollen. A piece of food [...]

Related concepts: Communicating hydrocephalus, Noncommunicating hydrocephalus, Obstructive hydrocephalus, Water on the brain Introduction to hydrocephalus: The brain and spinal cord are bathed and protected by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A baby has less than 2 ounces of spinal fluid; a typical adult has about 5 ounces. A typical child makes about 2 ounces of new spinal [...]