Failure to thrive (FTT) is defined as a delay in physical growth and weight gain in babies and children. As children mature, they are normally carefully monitored by doctors to ensure that they are growing at a healthy rate. Percentiles…
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition in which certain mental functions such as memory or reasoning are lost over time. It is the most common form of dementia.[1] The exact cause is unknown, but clumps of protein developing around the…
Bacterial sinusitis is a bacterial infection of the paranasal sinuses, the hollow spaces in the bones of the face around the nose. Sinusitis is a very common problem, affecting approximately one in every eight American adults annually. Almost 30 million…
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an umbrella term for a group of genetic disorders affecting the body’s red blood cells. People with SCD have atypical hemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells that helps circulate oxygen throughout the body –…
Kidney stones, or nephrolithiasis, is a common condition in which hard collections, or calculi, form in the renal system, usually in the tube between the kidney and the bladder. These collections are the result of urine becoming saturated with minerals…
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder affecting bowel function, characterized by symptoms mostly relating to digestive discomfort, including diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, cramping, and abdominal pain. IBS affects around 11 % of the population globally. In western…
Pericarditis is a term for inflammation of the pericardium, the membrane around the heart. The pericardium, which keeps the heart in place and prevents friction from surrounding organs, is a sac comprised of two layers of tissue with lubricating fluid…
Foreign body aspiration, also known as pulmonary aspiration, occurs when an object is accidentally inhaled into a person’s airways. This usually results in an obstruction of a specific area of the respiratory tract, such as:[1] The larynx. Also known as…
Endocarditis is a rare infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium) and theheart valves, usually caused by germs (or, less commonly, fungus) entering the bloodstreamand passing into the heart.[1] However, a rare, non-infective variant also exists. Non-infectiveendocarditis is…
Impetigo, or school sores, is a bacterial infection of the skin. It is caused by Staphylococcal or Streptococcal bacteria. It is a relatively common infection, and most commonly affects school-aged children. It is easily spread by skin-to-skin contact, or via…