What Is a Cast? A cast is a hard bandage that keeps part of the body from moving so it can heal. Why Do Kids Need Casts? Kids get casts after a broken bone, some surgeries, and other injuries. What Are the Different Kinds of Casts? Most casts are made of fiberglass. Fiberglass is a kind of plastic …
What Is Arthritis? Arthritis (say: arth-ry-tiss) is a disease that causes swelling, stiffness, and pain in a person’s joints. Joints are where two bones meet, allowing our bodies to move — the hips, knees, ankles, elbows, shoulders, knuckles, etc. Joints contain synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant to help them move easily. Arthritis can keep joints …
You know what blood is — it’s that red stuff that oozes out if you get a paper cut. But what is blood, really, and what does it do? What Is Blood and What Does It Do? Blood is needed to keep us alive. It brings oxygen and nutrients to all the parts of the …
What Is Anemia? Anemia (say: uh-NEE-mee-uh) happens when a person doesn’t have the normal amount of red blood cells or if the person is low on hemoglobin (say: HEE–muh-glow-bin). Hemoglobin, a protein, is an important part of red blood cells because it gives the oxygen something to stick to. Red blood cells (or RBCs, for short) are made inside …
What Is Sickle Cell Disease? Sickle cell disease is a disease of the blood. Red blood cells usually look like round discs. But in sickle cell disease, they’re shaped like crescent moons, or an old farm tool known as a sickle. A round disc is the healthiest shape for red blood cells because they can move …
What Is Bedwetting? Millions of kids and teenagers from every part of the world wet the bed every single night. Maybe you do it. Most kids don’t tell their friends, so it’s easy to feel kind of alone, like you might be the only one on the whole planet who wets the bed. But you …
Some babies are born with a condition called Down syndrome. Kids with Down syndrome often have medical problems and trouble learning. But many can go to regular schools, make friends, enjoy life, and get jobs when they’re older. Getting special help early — often when they are just babies and toddlers — can be the …
Oh, nuts! They sure can cause you trouble if you’re allergic to them — and a growing number of kids are these days. So what kind of nuts are we talking about? Peanuts, for one, though they aren’t truly a nut. They’re a legume (say: LEH-gyoom), like peas and lentils. A person also could be …
Achoo! Every time you go near your best friend’s cat, your eyes water and you start sneezing up a storm. And every spring and fall, your dad gets a runny nose when he takes you for hikes in the woods. What’s going on? Well, you and your dad might have allergies. Chain Reaction An allergy (say: AL-ur-jee) is your immune system’s reaction to …
What Is Lactose Intolerance? People who have lactose intolerance (say: LAK-tose in-TAHL-er-ents) have trouble digesting (say: dye-JES-ting) lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy foods. Lactose intolerance does not mean a kid is allergic to milk, but they will probably feel bad after drinking milk or eating cheese, ice cream, or anything …
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