01. Abdominal pain - children
Recurrent abdominal pain is common in childhood, occurring in at least 10 percent of preschool and school-age children.
Read | 02. Migraines in children
Many adults who suffer from migraines can tell the difference between a severe headache and a true migraine. But when your child complains his head is pounding, how do you know if it's a migraine?...
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03. Asperger syndrome
Asperger syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder characterised by an inability to understand how to interact socially.
Read | 04. Autism
Autism is a developmental disorder that causes a wide variety of abnormalities in social skills, language skills and behaviour in people.
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05. Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is an abnormal increase in the frequency and liquidity of the stools.
Read | 06. Food allergy
Food intolerance refers to any adverse reaction to food or food additives. Food allergy is only one such reaction and refers specifically to food intolerance.
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07. Kwashiorkor
The name “kwashiorkor” is said to come from West Africa and means “deposed child”.
Read | 08. Lactose intolerance
This is a condition caused by inability to digest one of the carbohydrate components of milk, specifically lactose, due to a lack of the intestinal enzyme lactase.
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09. Chickenpox
Chickenpox (varicella) occurs worldwide as a childhood disease, which lasts four to five days and has the features of fever and a widespread rash of small blisters (vesicles).
Read | 10. Malnutrition
Malnutrition is a wide spectrum of symptoms that occurs when one or more nutrients is lacking in the diet. These symptoms vary according to which nutrients are deficient.
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11. Measles
The main features of measles are a running nose, cough, conjunctivitis and high fever, leading up to the appearance of a skin rash.
Read | 12. Worms
Wormlike parasites, called helminths, usually (but not always) live in the gastrointestinal tract (the gut). Some helminths can also infect the bloodstream or tissues.
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13. Birthmarks
A birthmark is a skin blemish which is present at birth and which has usually developed before the baby is born. Birthmarks enlarge commensurate with the growth of the child.
Read | 14. Circumcision
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin. It may be performed for medical, cultural or religious reasons.
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15. Colds
Colds are viral infections of the nose and throat. Colds can go on to involve the sinuses, ears, larynx, trachea and bronchi directly or through secondary effects.
Read | 16. Deafness and hearing
Hearing loss is one of the most common health handicapping conditions among children and adults. The hearing sense is the cornerstone of communication.
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17. Flu (influenza)
Influenza ('flu) is a viral infection of the airways that also has severe general symptoms. It is a seasonal illness that affects large numbers of people during winter.
Read | 18. Hay fever
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to small particles of plant or animal protein
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19. Nosebleed
A nosebleed is usually due to the rupture of small vessels overlying the anterior (front) part of the nasal septum, which contains many fragile blood vessels.
Read | 20. Otitis media
Otitis media is an inflammation or infection of the cells lining the middle ear cavity. The middle ear is the area located immediately behind the eardrum.
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21. What your child's cough means
Download some of the most common coughs in this article.
Read | 22. Constipation in children
Constipation is the state in which bowel movements are infrequent and the stool is hard and difficult to pass.
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23. Cradle cap
Cradle cap is a harmless skin condition that appears as oily, yellow or reddish scales or patches of skin flakes on a baby's scalp.
Read | 24. Croup
Croup is an acute viral inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
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25. Learning disabilities
Children, adolescents and adults who experience learning disabilities usually function on an average to above average intellectual level.
Read | 26. Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when there is a shortage of water in the body. This can happen at any age, but is especially dangerous in infants and the elderly.
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27. Fever
Fever is a condition of increased body temperature associated with an underlying disease. A central (rectal) temperature of 37.8°C or more is indicative of fever.
Read | 28. Heat rash - children
Heat rash is a skin rash which appears in response to the child being very hot – in fact he or she may be too warm.
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29. Neonatal jaundice
Jaundice is the name given to the yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes by bilirubin that occurs in about 50 – 80% of newborn babies.
Read | 30. Whooping cough
Whooping cough is a highly communicable bacterial disease, characterised by spasmodic coughing, generally ending in a high-pitched crowing called the "whoop".
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31. Down's syndrome
Down's Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder affecting roughly 1 in every 1000 live births. Children born with this syndrome have limited intellectual ability.
Read | 32. Fits and faints in children
The terms “fits”, “seizures” and “convulsions” are often used interchangeably when we describe episodic abnormal movements, stiffening of the body, or disturbed consciousness.
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33. Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, which are the small masses of lymphatic tissue at the back of the throat.
Read | 34. Febrile seizures
Febrile seizure may be diagnosed if it is a generalised convulsion associated with fever occurring in a child between the ages of six months and five years.
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35. Fever and seizure in children
Epilepsy is more common than most of us realise. Dr Andrew Rose-Innes describes the most common kind of seizure to occur in children.
Read | 36. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can damage the embryo and foetus as it develops, leading to a characteristic pattern of malformation which is identified as FAS.
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37. Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella-like term used to describe a group of chronic disorders. These disorders all entail impairing control of movement.
Read | 38. German measles
German measles (rubella) is one of the common rash diseases of childhood. It is called "German measles" because a German physician wrote a clear description of it in 1760.
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39. Tetanus
Tetanus is a disease caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The toxin affects the central nervous system, sometimes resulting in death.
Read | 40. Growing pains
Children between the ages of four and nine often complain of vague pains usually in the thighs or calves, and often at night.
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41. Impetigo
Impetigo is a fairly common and highly contagious superficial bacterial skin infection that affects children more than adults.
Read | 42. Nappy rash
Nappy rash is a type of dermatitis that affects the buttocks, genitals and thighs of babies. Although this may cause the baby discomfort and pain, it is seldom serious.
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43. Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki disease is an acute systemic illness that causes fever and is characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels.
Read | 44. Mumps
A mumps infection is usually recognised by the swollen cheeks caused by inflamed parotid salivary glands.
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45. Otitis externa
Otitis externa is an inflammation or infection of the outer ear canal, the passage leading from the external ear to the eardrum.
Read | 46. Reye syndrome
Reye syndrome is a rare cause of encephalopathy (brain disease) and death in children.
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47. Rickets
Rickets is a vitamin D deficiency disease characterised by bone pain, muscle weakness and bone and tooth deformities.
Read | 48. Shaken Baby Syndrome
Shaken baby syndrome is a severe form of head injury that occurs when a baby is shaken forcibly enough to cause the baby's brain to rebound (bounce) against his or her skull.
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49. Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries
Brachial Plexus injuries are caused by damage to the Brachial Plexus nerves. There are three types of Brachial Plexus birth injuries.
Read | 50. Rheumatic heart disease
Every year many children and young adults are crippled or die as a result of rheumatic heart disease – and it all starts with an untreated sore throat.
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51. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
In the developed world SIDS is the commonest cause of death in infants between one week and one year of age.
Read | 52. Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is a childhood illness featuring high fever, vomiting, headache, sore throat and a red, sandpaper-like rash of small red spots over the whole body.
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53. Polio
Polio is caused by a virus belonging to the family Picornaviridae. There are three different types: 1, 2 and 3.
Read | 54. ADHD
ADHD is a disorder characterised by three primary symptoms: hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention (difficulty focusing and sustaining attention).
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55. Appendicitis
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix.
Read | 56. Diseases from cats
Diseases that spread from cats to humans fall into two main groups, namely parasitic infestations and bacterial or viral infections.
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57. Diseases from dogs
Diseases that dogs spread to humans fall into two main groups, namely parasitic infestations, and bacterial or viral infections.
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