Circumcision

Whether you’re expecting a baby boy or have just welcomed your new little guy into the world, you have an important decision to make before you take your son home: whether to circumcise him. Was it hard to decide if you should circumcise your son? YesNo VoteView Results For some …

Cleft Lip and Palate

An orofacial (or-oh-FAY-shul) cleft is when a baby is born with an opening in the lip and/or roof of the mouth (palate). Cleft lip and cleft palate happen in about 1 or 2 of every 1,000 babies born in the United States each year, making it one of the most …

Cochlear Implants

Sometimes called a “bionic ear,” the cochlear implant offers the hope of gaining or restoring the ability to sense sound for some people with significant hearing loss. What Is a Cochlear Implant? A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device that helps overcome problems in the cochlea (KO-klee-uh). The cochlea are snail-shaped, …

Enlarged Adenoids

Enlarged Adenoids Adenoids are a patch of tissue that sits at the very back of the nasal passage. Like tonsils, adenoids help keep the body healthy by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that you breathe in or swallow. Although you can see the tonsils at the back of the throat, adenoids aren’t …

Gastroesophageal Reflux

At one time or another, many adults have had heartburn (an uncomfortable feeling in the chest) after eating a big meal or spicy foods. When these symptoms happen often or aren’t tied to certain ingredients, they might be due to gastroesophageal reflux (GER), also called reflux. But GER isn’t just a …

Hernias

Many people are surprised to learn that hernias are fairly common in kids. Babies (especially preemies) can even be born with them. Hernias in kids can be treated (hernia repair is the one of the most common surgeries performed on children), but it’s important to recognize their symptoms so that …

Intussusception

About Intussusception Intussusception (in-tuh-suh-SEP-shun) is the most common abdominal emergency affecting children under 2 years old. It happens when one portion of the bowel slides into the next, much like the pieces of a telescope. When this “telescoping” happens, the flow of fluids and food through the bowel can become …

Middle Ear Infections and Ear Tube Surgery

Why Surgery? Many kids get middle ear infections (known as otitis media, or OM), usually when they’re between 6 months and 2 years old. Some kids are particularly likely to get them because of environmental and lifestyle factors (like attendance at a group childcare, secondhand tobacco smoke exposure, and taking a …

Stem Cell Transplants

Stem cells are cells in the body that have the potential to turn into anything, such as a skin cell, a liver cell, a brain cell, or a blood cell. Stem cells that turn into blood cells are called hematopoietic (heh-mat-uh-poy-EH-tik) stem cells. These cells are capable of developing into the …

Tear-Duct Obstruction and Surgery

Many babies are born with an underdeveloped tear-duct system, a problem that can lead to tear-duct blockage, excess tearing, and infection. Blocked tear ducts are common in infants; as many as one third may be born with this condition. Fortunately, more than 90% of all cases clear up by the time …