Febrile convulsions, also referred to as febrile seizures, are the most common type of convulsion or seizure that occur during early childhood, with the average onset being 18 to 22 months of age, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Fevers...
Babies are born with two soft areas on the top of their heads, which are called "fontanels." This area is where your baby's skull bones haven't yet grown together. The soft spots make vaginal delivery possible and allow for your baby's brain to...
When the meninges, or membranes that surround the brain, become inflamed the result is called meningitis, the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) explains. Depending on whether the inflammation is due to a viral or bacterial infection,...
A concussion is a traumatic blow to the brain. Concussion occurs if a blow to the head causes the brain to bounce off the skull, causing swelling and trauma, according to PDR Health. Concussion can also occur if injury causes bleeding inside the...
Meningitis is the medical term for an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection in most cases, but some medications and complications from illnesses also cause...
Water on the brain is known as hydrocephalus. This condition is caused by cerebrospinal fluid building up in the brain. Two types of hydrocephalus exist: congenital and acquired. Congenital hydrocephalus is water on the brain that is present at...
A haemophilus influenzae infection usually begins in the respiratory system. It may spread to other body systems, explains the Merck Manual. It is caused by a group of bacteria, one of which is Haemophilus influenza type B. The U.S. Centers for...
Meningitis occurs when the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord become irritated and swollen. This can be caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. While many cases of viral meningitis can resolve on their own without treatment,...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes, the result of either a bacterial or a viral infection that enters the body via the cerebral spinal fluid. Often called neonatal meningitis, infant fontanel meningitis affects...
Children of any age can acquire meningitis, a condition in which infection affects the brain and spinal chord, according to KidsHealth, a publication sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. Meningitis can be either viral or bacterial. The most common...
Meningitis, the inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord, can affect anyone, although the most at-risk group is children under five years old. Meningitis can cause death in a relatively healthy person within a few hours of...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal chord, caused by a bacteria or virus, according to BabyCenter.com. Most cases of meningitis in infants are treatable with little to no permanent damage, if treated in a timely...
Three membranes, called the meninges, lie between the brain and the skull and cover the spinal cord. Infection of the meninges is called meningitis. Viral meningitis is usually self-limiting and rarely leads to complications. Bacterial...
Your baby's loss of appetite may be attributed to his mood, but it can also be the sign of an underlying problem. In addition to continuing to offer him food and beverages, you can try to determine what is causing his appetite loss. Determining...
According to MayoClinic.com, hydrocephalus, also know as water on the brain, occurs in about 1 out of every 500 births. The outcome of this condition depends on how quickly the child is diagnosed and if any underlying disorders are also present....
Sodium benzoate is a chemical used as a preservative in for several types of food, including margarine, soft drinks, pickles, jelly and jam. Although sodium benzoate is usually safe, it may cause mild side effects in certain individuals. Sodium...
Concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury resulting from a bump to the head or blow to the body that violently shakes the head back and forth. Children can get concussions from falls, sports and accidents. Concussions don't always cause loss...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the thin layer of tissue that surrounds the brain. Bacteria and viruses cause most cases of meningitis in children. Health providers can diagnose meningitis clinically and by doing a lumbar puncture,...
Meningitis, also called meningococcal disease or spinal meningitis, is a potentially deadly illness caused by inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The Mayo Clinic indicates that this illness is often due to a viral...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the thin layer of tissue surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Viruses and bacteria most often cause meningitis in children. The symptoms of meningitis vary by age, but in children 1 year of age...
Childhood brain tumors are any parent's worst fear. According to the 2004 to 2005 Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States report, 3,400 new cases are diagnosed each year. The Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation reports that one in 30,000 to...
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population get sick with the flu every year. People who have compromised immune systems, young children and the elderly are at risk for developing...
You tuck your child into bed each night. You do your best to provide for their well being and safety. So when your child wakes up vomiting you naturally worry. Seeing your child feel unwell and not knowing the cause for their discomfort produces...
Group B streptococcus--also known as GBS, group B strep, or beta strep-- normally inhabits the intestine. Beta strep bacteria can cause infections in the urinary tract, skin, blood, lungs, brain and spinal cord that may be life-threatening for...
Vitamin supplements can help maintain the body's many functions and processes. But taking too many vitamins can have serious health consequences. Children in particular run the risk of overdosing by accidentally taking vitamins with adult dosing...
Group B strep is a common bacterium found in the urinary tract of pregnant women. During the pregnancy, women get screened for the presence of this bacterium. Health care providers administer antibodies during the delivery to prevent infection of...
Life with a newborn baby would be less stressful if babies came with an instruction manual. Many new parents don't know when to take a newborn to the emergency room -- or to the doctor's office, for that matter. When you have a sick baby, every...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. In babies, especially newborns, meningitis can be a serious condition that can lead to death if left untreated. In babies younger...
The body uses a fever to fight off infections such as viral or bacterial infections. A fever serves a functional purpose in the body, but a high fever may become a health risk for your child. Knowing how to take your child's temperature properly...
