Water on the brain, also called hydrocephalus, is the result of a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that the excess CSF "puts pressure on the brain, pushing the brain up against the skull and...
The formal name for clubfoot is talipes equinovarus (TEV). In this condition, the bones of the ankle are turned down (equinus) and in (varus). It looks as if the sole of the foot is facing the other foot, such that the person is walking on the...
Many women rely on birth control pills to help them plan their families as well as to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Some women who take birth control may experience loss of certain vitamins or an inability to properly absorb all necessary...
Alcohol use can affect a fetus in many ways. According to the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Center for Excellence, it is estimated that over 40,000 babies are born in the United States each year with some type of disorder that is attributed to...
An above-the-knee amputation is a surgical procedure designed to remove a damaged leg above the knee joint. Conditions that potentially require this type of surgery include uncorrectable poor blood flow, traumatic injury, severe infection, birth...
Hearing your baby's doctor tell you that he detects a heart murmur likely sends immediate concerns through your mind. However, heart murmurs are quite common in babies, and many kids have one at some point. It's not actually a disorder or illness,...
Newborns need glucose, or sugar, for energy, particularly in the brain. Low glucose, known as hypoglycemia, occurs in about two out of every 1,000 newborns, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. The condition means your...
Congenital disorders of the stomach are disorders present at birth. They may be from genetic disorders, as part of a syndrome with multiple anomalies, or isolated problems. The stomach undergoes less transitions to its form during development than...
Maternal infections such as herpes can infect a newborn as he passes through the birth canal or, more rarely, before birth. Herpes virus infection in the newborn can cause neonatal conjunctivitis, a red or pink eye, although other less serious...
Although the cholesterol content in chicken livers is quite high, the food does contain very high levels of several different important nutrients. As long as you eat chicken livers in moderation, and minimize your consumption of other less...
Genetic diseases are caused by defects in genes, segments of DNA that govern specific characteristics in a person. Common genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington's disease aren't always inherited, but may occur as a spontaneous...
The human body needs potassium for normal functioning of the muscles, cells and nerves. When blood levels of potassium fall, serious problems such as abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac arrhythmia can occur. Muscular weakness and stomach...
The middle ear is an air-filled space located behind the eardrum. The Merck Manuals Medical Library describes the middle ear as containing three tiny bones, called ossicles. These bones transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear....
A neurological disorder or disease affects the central and peripheral nervous system. According to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, a child's complex and vulnerable nervous system can be damaged by traumas, infections, heredity and tumors,...
A pregnant woman has two reasons to be concerned with what she eats. First, she needs to maintain her health, as healthy weight gain -- without gaining too much weight -- will promote a healthy pregnancy and easy weight loss after delivery....
Cardiomyopathy is an enlargement of the heart muscle that can have a negative effect on quality of life. The heart can become inflamed and enlarged from conditions such as high blood pressure, birth defects, disorders of the heart valves or from...
No two children develop in the same way, even if they have the same parents and genetic background. While toddlers normally have a wide range of abilities, children with special issues can have an even wider range. Many factors -- some...
Stillbirth is the premature delivery of a deceased baby after the 20th week of gestation. This is often a painful and emotional experience for the parents, and it usually comes with questions of what went wrong in the pregnancy. There are quite...
Ceylon tea, originally from Sri Lanka, contains fermented black tea leaves. The fermented leaves undergo oxidization over a long period. Like most black teas, Ceylon tea contains caffeine. You should avoid taking over 200 mg of caffeine per day...
Every newborn is screened at birth for harmful disorders that could impact her growth and development. Metabolic disorders, explains KidsHealth, can interfere with an infant’s ability to use and process nutrients, including proteins. A...
According to the American Pregnancy Association, of the nearly 6 million pregnancies that occur in the U.S. each year, about 2 million pregnant women will experience a pregnancy loss and 875,000 will experience complications. Sometimes these...
Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are used to treat and manage acid-related stomach disorders such as heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease and stomach ulcers. PPIs are one of most prescribed medications, and are also available over the...
According to the National Institutes of Health, developmental disabilities refer to disorders in which there are birth defects related to how part, or parts, of the body develops. Autism disorder, Asperger's syndrome, and Down syndrome are some of...
Cerebral palsy is a debilitating neurological disease of the brain that causes muscles to be weak or stiff. According to MayoClinic.com, two to four of every 1,000 births result in cerebral palsy.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the front of the neck. This gland is responsible for producing the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). When the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of these hormones, it's...
Despite the increased difficulty of becoming pregnant later in life, more women are choosing this option. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, women can have successful pregnancies even in their early 40s, but the difficulty of...
According to the old children’s song, the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone. However, genetics and traumatic events sometimes conspire to make that connection rather tenuous. Hip dislocation occurs when your thigh bone or femur slips...
The first few weeks of fetal development are fraught with peril for the developing embryo. Any disruption or error in fetal development during the weeks when organs and major body systems are forming can result in congenital defects. Maternal...
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that causes severe lung damage and nutritional deficiencies. Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, saliva and digestive juices. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and...
