An abrasion is a superficial rub or wearing off of the skin, usually caused by a scrape or a brush burn. Abrasions are usually minor injuries that can be treated at home.
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Detailed information on blisters, including cause, first aid, and treatment.
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Children are more likely to end up with a cut or scrape on the head or face. One reason is that children's sense of balance isn't completely adjusted.
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Most minor cuts or wounds to the face can be handled at home with simple first aid treatment. But there are also times when these injuries need medical care. Here's what you need to know.
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Children should wear protective eyewear during sports and recreational activities. In the classroom, they should wear eye protection when doing lab experiments.
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A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the cornea. This is the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. Learn details about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Sprains and strains are types of injuries. A sprain is an injury to a ligament while a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon.
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Nursemaid's elbow is a type of elbow injury. It's when a forearm bone (radius) slips out of place from where it normally attaches to the elbow joint.
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Whether the bite is from a family pet or an animal in the wild, scratches and bites can become infected and cause scarring. Animals can also carry diseases that can be transmitted through a bite.
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When your child is bitten or scratched by an animal, remain calm and reassure your child that you can help. Here's what you need to know.
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Fleas, mites, and chiggers are different kinds of small insects. They are also parasites. This means they feed off the blood, skin, or both of animals and humans. These insects are more common in the warm weather. They bite skin and cause symptoms such as bumps, redness, pain, or itching.
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Ticks attach themselves to the scalp, behind the ear, in the armpit and groin, and also between fingers and toes. Find out what to do if you find a tick on your child.
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Medicines are the leading cause of poisoning in children. Poisoning by makeup and personal care products is the next most common cause.
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Sometimes accidental poisonings can be treated in the home under the direction of a poison control center or your child's healthcare provider. At other times, emergency medical care is necessary.
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Know the types of burns you can get and how to keep you and your family safe.
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The skin is the body's largest organ. It serves as a protective shield against heat, light, injury, and infection.
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Burns are classified as first-, second-, or third-degree, depending on how deep and severe they penetrate the skin's surface.
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A burn is damage to tissues of the body caused by contact with things such as heat, radiation, or chemicals. A first-degree burn affects only the outer layer of skin (epidermis).
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A child who has been burned needs additional calories and protein to help them heal and grow.
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Most children with burns have pain, which can be controlled with medicine. They also usually experience itching at some point during the healing process.
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How can you get your kids into the handwashing habit? We've got a few tips for you below.
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You can prevent the flu this season by taking 1 simple step: Get a flu shot.
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Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus are serious illnesses. A combination vaccine is given to babies and children to provide protection against all three diseases.
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The MMR vaccine is given in 2 doses--at 12 to 15 months and at 4 to 6 years, or at least 1 month after the first dose.
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Although it is not a perfect measure, BMI gives a fairly accurate evaluation of how much of your teen's body is made up of fat.
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The cholesterol in blood comes from 2 sources: the foods your teen eats and their liver. The liver, however, makes all of the cholesterol your teen's body needs.
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Read on to learn all about fever and children--from symptoms and treatment to how to take your child's temperature.
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You want to help a child with cold symptoms feel better, but choosing among countless over-the-counter (OTC) cold medicines can be daunting. Here are some guidelines that can help.
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Surgery doesn't always mean large incisions. Minimally invasive surgery is often used today. This uses small cuts, and allows a child to recover faster and with less pain.
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A look at how open surgery compares to minimally invasive surgery, including different types of procedures.
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This is the time to ask questions: What are the expected results? What are the possible risks and complications? How long will the surgery take?
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Touring the hospital before surgery can help your child see the sights, sounds, and events they will experience the day of surgery. It is a nonthreatening, often reassuring, way to learn about the hospital.
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It's important to keep your baby's routine the same before the day of surgery. Make sure you, your baby, and your family are well rested.
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Read books to your toddler about going to the hospital. Keep any explanations simple and be careful with the words you use.
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Read on for helpful information about what to expect before and after your child's surgery.
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Your child will need to know that people in the operating room will be wearing surgical clothes to help prevent germs from infecting the surgical incision.
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An appendectomy is surgery to remove a child’s appendix. An appendectomy may be done as an open surgery or as laparoscopic surgery. Read on to learn what to expect before, during, and after the surgery.
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Hypospadias is a problem where the opening of the urethra is not at the tip of the penis. With hypospadias, the end of the tube is lower down on the underside of the penis. Or it may be in the scrotum.
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Once surgery is done, your child will be brought to the recovery room, also called the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).
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Intensive care is needed for children who have had certain types of major surgery: heart operations, organ transplants, or neurosurgery.
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In some children, the openings into the tear duct don’t form the right way. This causes a blockage. The tears have no place to drain. Learn more about how this condition can affect your child, and how it's treated.
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Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the eyeball. Conjunctivitis is also known as “pink eye.”
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A tonsillectomy may be recommended if your child has throat infections that keep coming back. Adenoidectomy is recommended if your child has a lot of trouble breathing through the nose. Often the tonsils and adenoids are removed at the same time.
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Allergic rhinitis can happen on a seasonal basis or year-round. There is often a family history of allergic rhinitis, eczema, asthma, or food allergy. Read on to learn details about treating and managing this condition.
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Acne is a disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Hair follicles are the areas around the base or root of each hair. Sebaceous glands are the tiny glands that release oil (sebum) into the hair follicles. The sebum moistens the skin and hair. The sebum and hair get to the skin surface through tiny holes called pores.
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Fifth disease is a viral illness that causes a rash. It occurs most often in the winter and spring.
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Detailed information on diagnosing and evaluating heart disease in children
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Diabetes occurs when not enough insulin is made, or when the body is unable to use the insulin that is made. The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
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Osgood-Schlatter disease is an overuse condition in children. It's when the tendon in a knee becomes injured and inflamed.
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A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. When a fracture happens, it is classified as either open or closed.
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Chickenpox is a common childhood disease that causes an itchy, blistering rash and is easily spread to others. Read more about it.
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Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It can damage and destroy liver cells.
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Over-the-counter medicines can help ease a child's aches and pains, but you should know a few things before you pop open a bottle.
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Always read the label. All OTC medicine labels have detailed usage and warning information to help you choose and use the products. Here's a helpful guide to reading these labels.
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