Cancers of the brain and nervous system are the most common type of childhood cancer. When discovered early, these cancers often can be cured. There are many different types of brain and nervous system cancers, and doctors categorize them based on where the tumors are, the type of cells involved, …
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Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). CP usually is caused by brain damage that happens before or during a baby’s birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a child’s …
Chiari Malformation
Chiari malformation (key-AR-ee mal-fore-MAY-shun) is a condition that causes the cerebellum — the part of the brain that controls coordination and muscle movement — to push into the space normally occupied by the spinal cord. Most kids who have it are born with the condition, but some develop it as they grow. Many …
Concussions
A concussion is a brain injury that causes temporary changes in the way the brain works. You might think they happen when someone is knocked unconscious while playing sports. But concussions can happen with any head injury, often without a loss of consciousness. We often hear about head injuries in athletes, …
Epilepsy
If you have a child with epilepsy, you’re not alone — 3 million Americans have this disorder. Anyone can get epilepsy at any age, but most new diagnoses are in kids. Some kids with epilepsy outgrow their seizures by the time they’re teens. About Epilepsy Epilepsy is a disease of …
Febrile Seizures
Febrile seizures are convulsions that can happen during a fever (febrile means “feverish”). They affect kids 3 months to 6 years old, and are most common in toddlers 12–18 months old. The seizures usually last for a few minutes and are accompanied by a fever above 100.4°F (38°C). While they can …
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Drinking alcohol during her pregnancy can cause a woman’s baby to be born with birth defects and developmental disabilities. In fact, alcohol (beer, wine, or hard liquor) is the leading cause of preventable birth defects and developmental disabilities in the United States. Babies exposed to alcohol in the womb can develop …
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare medical condition that affects the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Guillain-Barré (GHEE-yan bah-RAY) syndrome often causes people to have weakness or even paralysis in parts of the body. Most people who get Guillain-Barré syndrome recover and return to their normal lives and …
Headaches
Whether they’re pounding and throbbing or dull and aching, headaches are common in kids. Headaches can have a wide range of causes and many levels of severity. It’s important to understand how to recognize when a headache is just a passing pain and when it’s something more and requires medical attention. …
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is a brain condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the clear, watery fluid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord — can’t drain from the brain. It then pools, causing a buildup of fluid in the skull. Hydrocephalus (also called “water on the brain”) can …