Many kids will have a broken bone at some point. Here's what to expect.
A buckle or torus fracture is a type of broken bone. One side of the bone bends, raising a little buckle, without breaking the other side of the bone.
Many people regularly get bothersome canker sores in their mouths. Here's how to help prevent them - and make a kid who has one more comfortable.
A comminuted fracture is a type of broken bone. The bone is broken into more than two pieces.
Concussions are serious injuries that can be even more serious if kids don't get the time and rest needed to heal them completely.
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness. Someone who has fainted will usually recover quickly.
Fevers happen when the body's internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above normal. This is often the body's way of fighting infections.
Functional abdominal pain is lasting belly pain that doesn't respond to treatment. Many school-age kids have it at some point, but get better without lasting problems.
Knowing what to expect when you need to take your child to the emergency room can help make it a little less stressful.
A greenstick fracture is a type of broken bone. The bone cracks on one side only, not all the way through the bone.
Growing pains are leg pains and soreness that happen to kids at night, usually when they're 3 to 12 years old.
Headaches affect kids as well as adults. Learn about common causes and when to talk to a doctor.
Broken bones have an amazing ability to heal, especially in kids. Full healing can take time, but new bone usually forms a few weeks after an injury.
All kids get a fever from time to time. Here's how to take your child's temperature, safely and accurately.
Inflammation is one way the body reacts to infection, injury, or other medical conditions. Many things can cause it.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common intestinal problem that can cause cramps, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. Certain foods can trigger these problems. So can anxiety, stress, and infections.
Migraine headaches can cause severe pain and other symptoms. Read about migraine causes, treatments, prevention tips, and lots more.
Occupational therapy can help improve kids' cognitive, physical, and motor skills and build their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.
Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is one of the most common causes of knee pain in adolescents. It's really not a disease, but an overuse injury.
Doctors often recommend physical therapy for kids who have been injured or have movement problems from an illness, disease, or disability. Learn more about PT.
A splint is a support device that keeps an injured area from moving. Doctors often use splints to hold bones and joints in place so they can heal after a fracture.
A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a bone. They usually happen from repeating the same movement over and over.
Should you head to the ER when your child is hurt or ill? What about an urgent care center? Different problems need different levels of care, and you have many options.
Remember the biology class you had in high school? Well, maybe you don't or maybe now that you have a child, your interest in how the body works has grown.
Here are the basics about the life-sustaining fluid called blood.
Categorizing blood according to type helps prevent reactions when someone gets a blood transfusion. Find out how blood types work.
Without bones, muscles, and joints, we couldn't stand, walk, run, or even sit. The musculoskeletal system supports our bodies, protects our organs from injury, and enables movement.
The brain controls everything we do, and is often likened to the central computer within a vast, complicated communication network, working at lightning speed.
The digestive process starts even before the first bite of food. Find out more about the digestive system and how our bodies break down and absorb the food we eat.
Hearing may be the ears' main job, but it's not all they do. Learn all about the ears in this Body Basics article.
The glands of the endocrine system and the hormones they release affect almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies.
The eyes are small compared with most of the body's other organs, but their structure is incredibly complex. Learn more about eyes, vision, and common problems with both.
Learning about the female reproductive system, what it does, and the problems that can affect it can help you better understand your daughter's reproductive health.
The heart and circulatory system are our body's lifeline, delivering blood to the body's tissues. Brush up on your ticker with this body basics article.
The immune system, composed of special cells, proteins, tissues, and organs that protect against germs and microorganisms, is the body's defense against disease.
The bean-shaped kidneys, each about the size of a child's fist, are essential to our health. Their most important role is to filter blood and produce urine.
By the time we're 70 years old, we will have taken at least 600 million breaths. All of this breathing couldn't happen without the respiratory system.
Understanding the male reproductive system and what it does can help you better understand your son's reproductive health.
Brush up on metabolism, the chemical reactions in the body's cells that change food into energy, in this article.
Our mouth and teeth play an important role in our daily lives. Here's a course on the basics - including common problems of the mouth and teeth.
The ears gather sounds from our environment and turn them into messages for the brain to decode. Learn more in this video about the ears.
Our skin protects the network of tissues, muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and everything else inside our bodies. Hair and nails are actually modified types of skin.
The lymphatic system is an extensive drainage network that helps keep bodily fluid levels in balance and defends the body against infections.
The spleen is a fist-sized organ in the upper left part of the belly under the ribcage. It helps protect the body by clearing worn-out red blood cells and other foreign bodies (such as germs) from the bloodstream.
Collagen is a protein in the body that helps make bones strong.
Doctors order basic blood chemistry tests to assess a wide range of conditions and the function of organs.
A blood culture is a test that looks for germs (such as bacteria or fungi) in the blood.
The complete blood count (CBC) is the most common blood test. It analyzes red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Liver function tests can help doctors see if the liver has been damaged. They also can help diagnose infections and monitor medications that can cause liver-related side effects.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disease. It's a physical condition that also can also affect a person emotionally.
Constipation is a very common problem among kids, and it usually occurs because a child's diet doesn't include enough fluids and fiber. In most cases, simple changes can help kids go.
Coughs are a common symptom, but most aren't a sign of a serious condition. Learn about different coughs, how to help your child feel better, and when to call your doctor.
Is your child scheduled to have a sweat test? Find out how this test is performed and how it's used to diagnose cystic fibrosis.
Is your child scheduled to have an ECG? Find out how this test is performed and when you can expect the results.
Is your child scheduled to have an EEG? Find out how this test is done and when you can expect the results.
Is your child scheduled to have an EMG? Find out how this test is performed and when you can expect the results.
Febrile seizures are full-body convulsions caused by high fevers that affect young kids. Although they can be frightening, they usually stop on their own and don't cause any other health problems.
Germs are the microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that can cause disease.
If your child’s health care provider prescribed a prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid, you probably have many questions about how to use it safely. Get answers here.
Washing your hands well and often is the best way to keep from getting sick. Here's how to teach this all-important habit to your kids.
Need to check your child's heart rate? Follow our guide and check with your doctor if you have questions.
The flu usually makes kids feel worse than if they have a cold. But it's not always easy to tell the difference. Here are tips on what to look for — and what to do.
It can be hard to know if kids are well enough to go to school or childcare. Here are some guidelines.
Mumps is a viral infection that causes telltale swelling and pain in the salivary glands. With the help of the mumps vaccine, it's preventable.
If your child has bowel movements in places other than the toilet, you know how frustrating it can be. Many kids who soil beyond the years of toilet teaching have a condition known as encopresis.
Find out how and why doctors perform lumbar punctures (spinal taps).
Your child's doctor may order a stool collection test to check for blood, bacteria, ova, or parasites. Find out how this test is performed and when you can expect the results.
Is your child having a strep test or a throat culture? Find out how these swab tests are performed.
If your child is sick, you'll probably have many questions to ask your doctor. But have you made a list of questions and concerns to share with your pharmacist?
Building a relationship with your child's doctor requires communication and reasonable expectations.
It's best to get the flu vaccine early in flu season, so the body can make antibodies that protect it from the flu. But getting it later is better than not getting it at all.
Is your child having a urine culture or urinalysis performed? Find out why urine tests are performed, and what to expect when the doctor orders them.
We build almost all our bone density when we're kids and teens. Kids with strong bones have a better chance of avoiding bone weakness later in life. Here's how parents can help.
Birthmarks that babies are born with, or develop soon after birth, are mostly harmless and many even go away on their own, but sometimes they're associated with certain health problems.
Learn how this amazing muscle pumps blood throughout the body.
Doctors use body mass index (BMI) measurements to assess a child's physical growth in relation to other kids the same age. Here's how to calculate BMI and understand what the numbers mean.
Immunizations have protected millions of children from potentially deadly diseases. Learn about immunizations and find out exactly what they do - and what they don't.
Fevers happen when the body's internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above normal. This is often the body's way of fighting infections.
Doctors use growth charts to figure out whether kids' height and weight measurements are "normal" and whether they're developing on track. Here are some facts about growth charts.
Growth plates are the areas of new bone growth, usually near the ends of long bones. A growth plate is weaker than solid bone. This makes it more likely to get injured.
When Anna was born, she developed red spots that her parents learned were hemangiomas, benign birthmarks that she eventually outgrew. Her mother tells her story.
All kids get a fever from time to time. Here's how to take your child's temperature, safely and accurately.
Preventing kids from becoming overweight means making choices in the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together.
If your child is sick, you'll probably have many questions to ask your doctor. But have you made a list of questions and concerns to share with your pharmacist?
The spleen is a fist-sized organ in the upper left part of the belly under the ribcage. It helps protect the body by clearing worn-out red blood cells and other foreign bodies (such as germs) from the bloodstream.
It's best to get the flu vaccine early in flu season, so the body can make antibodies that protect it from the flu. But getting it later is better than not getting it at all.
Collagen is a protein in the body that helps make bones strong.
The flu vaccine is a good idea for all families. It does not cause the flu, and it helps keep kids and parents from getting sick.
Along with obvious changes in physical appearance that come with puberty, your child’s voice will start sounding a whole lot different too.
Immunizations protect kids from many dangerous diseases. Find out what vaccines your child needs to grow up healthy.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs this vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Find out when and why kids need to get the flu vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs to get these vaccines.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine.
Amblyopia interferes with the way the eye and the brain work together. The result is poor vision. Treatment may involve glasses, patches, eye drops, or surgery.
Some kids have hearing loss due to auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD), a problem in the transmission of sound from the inner ear to the brain.
A black eye is bruising around the eyes that can look purple, black, or dark blue. Usually, they get better in a week or so.
Corneal abrasions, which are common among kids, happen when something gets into the eye. Though sometimes painful, they're rarely serious and usually heal within a few days.
Earwax helps protect the eardrum and fight infection. Parents shouldn't attempt to remove earwax at home, as doing so risks damage to the ear canal and, possibly, a child's hearing.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a vision problem that makes it hard to see nearby objects clearly.
That weird ear-popping sensation is a normal part of air travel. Here's how to help equalize the air pressure in your child's ears to prevent or decrease ear pain.
Marfan syndrome affects the body's connective tissue and can cause problems in the eyes, joints, and heart. Even though the disease has no cure, doctors can successfully treat just about all of its symptoms.
Nearsightedness (myopia) is a vision problem that makes it hard to see distant objects clearly.
The ears gather sounds from our environment and turn them into messages for the brain to decode. Learn more in this video about the ears.
Blocked tear ducts are a fairly common problem in infants. If your child has a blocked tear duct, your doctor may show you how to massage the eye several times a day at home for a few months. Massaging can help open the blockage.
Blocked tear ducts are a fairly common problem in infants. A common procedure called a tear duct probe can open the blockage.
Strabismus causes eyes to wander or cross. Treatment may include glasses, patches, eye drops, or surgery.
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a red spot on the white of the eye. It can look scary, but is usually harmless, doesn’t hurt, and won’t affect vision.
Blocked tear ducts are a fairly common problem in infants. Sometimes surgery is done to treat them.
Kids with these jaw disorders often have difficulty chewing or talking due to problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Symptoms can resolve on their own, or with treatment.
It's important for kids to have their eyes examined regularly, as many vision problems and eye diseases can be detected and treated early.
Bed-sharing increases the risk of sleep-related deaths, including SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for the safest sleep environment.
Bedwetting is an issue that millions of families face every night. Most of the time it's not a sign of any deeper medical or emotional issues and kids eventually grow out of it.
Here are answers to some common questions about breastfed babies and sleep - from where they should snooze to when they'll finally start sleeping through the night.
Gnashing and grinding teeth, called bruxism, is common in kids, and often happens during deep sleep or while a child is under stress.
Babies can develop a flat spot on the back of their heads, usually from sleeping in the same position too long. Alternating your baby's sleep position and providing lots of "tummy time" can help.
Many parents struggle to get their toddlers to sleep. Get advice on how you can encourage sleep and promote habits that last a lifetime.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Getting enough sleep can be a problem for children of any age. Here's how to know if your kids get enough sleep.
A night terror seems similar to a nightmare, but it's far more dramatic. Night terrors can be alarming, but aren't usually cause for concern or a sign of a medical issue.
Nightmares aren't totally preventable, but parents can help kids feel better when they have one and ease their transition back to sleep.
Brief pauses in breathing during sleep can be normal. But when breathing stops often or for longer periods, it can be a cause for concern.
Nighttime feedings may be a thing of the past, but in this second year of life your tot might be rising for other reasons. Learn more.
At this age, babies generally have their days and nights straightened out. Many infants even "sleep through the night," which means 5 or 6 hours at a time.
By this age, your baby should be on the way to having a regular sleep pattern, sleeping longer at night, and taking 2 or 3 naps during the day.
Sleep problems are common in the second half of a baby's first year. It's best to respond to your baby's needs with the right balance of concern and consistency.
Newborn babies don’t yet have a sense of day and night. They wake often to eat – no matter what time it is.
Preschoolers sleep about 10 to 13 hours during each 24-hour period, and it's important to help them develop good habits for getting to sleep.
School-age kids need 9–12 hours of sleep a night. If they don't get it, they may be cranky or moody, hyper, and have behavior problems.
Teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep a night, but many don't get it. Keeping these tips in mind can help your teen get a good night’s sleep.
Although it can be unnerving to see, sleepwalking is actually very common in kids. Here's how to keep your young sleepwalker safe.
Gnashing and grinding teeth, called bruxism, is common in kids, and often happens during deep sleep or while a child is under stress.
Good oral health starts even before your child's first tooth comes in. Learn how to instill good habits that will last a lifetime.
Keeping kids' teeth healthy requires more than just daily brushing. Learn about fluoride, a substance found naturally in water that plays an important role in healthy teeth.
Here are the basics about how to care for your child's teeth - and when.
Teething can be a tough time for babies and parents. Here are the facts on teething, including tips for baby teeth hygiene and relieving pain.
Does your child need braces? Find out when braces are necessary, what's involved in caring for them, and how to find low-cost orthodontic care in your area.
Kids with these jaw disorders often have difficulty chewing or talking due to problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Symptoms can resolve on their own, or with treatment.
Tongue tie is when a band of tissue connects the tip of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, which keeps it from moving freely.
