You might think that high blood pressure (hypertension) just affects adults. But babies, kids, and teens can have it too. About 1 in 25 teenagers has high blood pressure. In babies, it’s usually caused by prematurity or problems with the kidneys or heart. While hypertension is far more common among …
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If Your Child Has a Heart Defect
About Congenital Heart Defects It can be frightening to learn that your child has a congenital heart defect. But these are relatively common, affecting almost 1 in every 100 newborns in the United States. Advances in medical knowledge and diagnostic technologies can provide very detailed information regarding structural heart abnormalities. …
Iron-Deficiency Anemia
When you think of iron, you might think of skyscrapers with metal beams infused with iron to make them strong. But people need iron to stay strong, too. Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to the body and plays a key role in brain and muscle function. A lack …
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease is an illness that involves the skin, mouth, and lymph nodes, and most often affects kids under age 5. The cause is unknown, but if the symptoms are recognized early, kids with Kawasaki disease can fully recover within a few days. Untreated, it can lead to serious complications …
Marfan Syndrome
About Marfan Syndrome Marfan syndrome is a progressive genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. Connective tissue is everywhere in the body, providing structure and support for cells. Think of it as a sort of “glue” that helps support every organ, blood vessel, bone, joint, and muscle. In people …
Metabolic Syndrome
As a parent, you know that life is full of cause-and-effect scenarios: If you don’t go to work, then you can’t pay the bills. If you ignore that sound the car is making, then you could end up on the side of the road with engine trouble. Unfortunately, this concept …
Mitral Valve Prolapse
About Mitral Valve Prolapse Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a very common heart condition. It happens when one of the heart’s valves doesn’t work properly. MVP can be frightening because it involves the heart and can occur with sharp chest pain, but it is not a critical heart problem. Because MVP …
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
The ductus arteriosus is a normal blood vessel that connects two major arteries — the aorta and the pulmonary artery — that carry blood away from the heart in a developing fetus. The lungs are not used while a fetus is in the womb because the baby gets oxygen directly …
Port-Wine Stains
About Port-Wine Stains A port-wine stain is a birthmark that literally looks like maroon wine was spilled or splashed on the skin. Though they often start out looking pink at birth, port-wine stains tend to become darker (usually reddish-purple or dark red) as kids grow. Port-wine stains (also known as …
Sickle Cell Disease
Usually, red blood cells (RBCs) are shaped like round discs. People who have sickle cell disease, though, have RBCs that are shaped like sickles, or crescent moons. This defect can cause painful episodes, serious infections, chronic anemia, and damage to body organs. These complications can vary from person to person …