What Is the Spleen? 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. The spleen is part of the lymphatic system, which is an extensive drainage network. The …
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? If you’re like most parents, the answer is probably “very few” or “none.” But pharmacists can offer valuable information about the prescriptions they fill and answer …
Preventing kids from becoming overweight means making choices in the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together. Helping kids lead healthy lifestyles begins with parents who lead by example. What Health Problems Can Obesity Cause? Obesity puts kids at risk for medical problems that can affect their health now and …
The first one appeared when Anna was just a few days old. I thought it was a diaper rash at first. As a first-time mom, I didn’t know one red spot from another. After another day or two, several more flat red spots appeared in and around Anna’s diaper area. I had never heard the …
What Is a Growth Plate? Growth plates are the areas of new bone growth in children and teens. They’re made up of cartilage , a rubbery, flexible material (the nose, for instance, is made of cartilage). Most growth plates are near the ends of long bones. Long bones are bones that are longer than they are wide. They include: …
What Are Growth Charts? Kids grow at their own pace. Big, small, tall, short — there is a wide range of healthy shapes and sizes among children. Genetics, gender, nutrition, physical activity, health problems, environment, and hormones all play a role in a child’s height and weight. And many of these things can vary widely from family …
All kids get a fever from time to time. A fever itself usually causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it’s often a sign that the body is fighting an infection. But when your child wakes in the middle of the night flushed, hot, and sweaty, it’s easy to be unsure …
What Is BMI? Body mass index (BMI) is a calculation that uses height and weight to estimate how much body fat someone has. You can use the KidsHealth BMI calculator below to find your child’s BMI. But it’s also important to talk to your child’s doctor to help understand the results. Tracking BMI Starting when your child …
View the slideshow below to learn about the heart. To advance the page or return to an earlier slide, click on the arrows.
What Are Birthmarks? Birthmarks are marks on the skin that a baby can develop before birth or soon after. Birthmarks can be flat or raised, have regular or irregular borders, and have different shades of coloring from brown, tan, black, or pale blue to pink, red, or purple. Most birthmarks are harmless and many even …
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