What’s a Black Widow Spider? The black widow spider is one of the few venomous spiders found in the United States (venom is a type of poison). It is part of the arachnid family, which includes not just spiders, but ticks, mites, and scorpions, too. Its body is about one-half inch long (smaller than a dime), and it …
What’s a Bee? Bee, or honeybee, is the word many people use to describe any flying insect that has wings and a stinger. But honeybees are really only one of a group of insects that includes other bees, wasps, and ants. Bees are fuzzy insects that feed on flowers. There are thousands of different types of …
What a Bedbug Is A bedbug is a small (about the size of an apple seed), flat, reddish-brown bug that can be found in homes all over the world. It hides during the day and comes out during the night to look for blood. A bedbug has a special ingredient in its saliva (spit) that …
You’re getting bigger and growing up. But for some kids, growing up comes with something called growing pains. What Are Growing Pains? Growing pains aren’t a disease. You probably won’t have to go to the doctor for them. But they can hurt. Usually they start when kids are between the ages of 3 and 12. …
What Are Warts? A wart is a small area of hardened skin that usually has a bumpy surface. Warts come in many sizes, colors, and shapes. They can appear anywhere on the body. Kids get them most often on the hands, feet, and face. Anybody can get warts, but kids get them more often than adults do. …
What Is Swimmer’s Ear? Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the ear canal. If you stick your finger in your ear, you’re feeling a little of the ear canal. But if you have swimmer’s ear, and you stick your finger in your ear — YOW! Let’s find out more about this painful type of ear infection, …
What’s a Stomachache? You wake up in the middle of the night with stomach cramps, clutch a pillow and curl your body around it. That helps a little and you go back to sleep. But in the morning, the pain is still there. “Ouch, I have a stomachache!” you tell your mom or dad. Why …
Darn those splinters! One minute you’re happily walking across the wooden deck and the next minute — yow! You examine the soft, pink sole of your foot to find a teeny, tiny piece of wood stuck in there. You might even feel a little pinch with every step. What should you do? Here are three …
Everybody gets cuts, and some cuts are bigger than others. That’s why a lot of kids need stitches at one time or another — usually on their face, chin, hands, or feet. Stitches aren’t for scratches. They’re for bigger cuts that probably wouldn’t heal well on their own. You might take a fall and hit …
What Is a Splint? A splint is a support device made of hard material that keeps an injured area from moving. What Do Splints Do? Splints hold bones and joints in place so they can heal after a broken bone, injury, or surgery. Splints also can help with problems that affect the joints (such as arthritis) or …
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