Pyloric Stenosis

While you were anticipating your new baby, you probably mentally prepared yourself for the messier aspects of child rearing: poopy diapers, food stains, and of course, spit up. But what's normal and what's not when it comes to spitting up or vomiting in infants? Pyloric stenosis, a condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract during infancy, isn't normal - it can cause your baby to vomit forcefully and often and may cause other problems su

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Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer, and the sixth most common type of cancer in children. Although other types of cancer can eventually spread to parts of the skeleton, osteosarcoma is one of the few that actually begin in bones and sometimes spread (or metastasize) elsewhere, usually to the lungs or other bones. Because osteosarcoma usually develops from osteoblasts (the cells that make growing bone), it most commonly affects

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Peptic Ulcers

Many people think that spicy foods cause ulcers, but the truth is that bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori) are the main culprit. And while many believe that adults in high-stress jobs are the only ones affected, people of any age — even children — can develop ulcers. Doctors say that in the United States, almost 1 in every 10 people will get an ulcer at some time during their lives. What Are Peptic Ulcers? An ulcer is a sore, wh

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Necrotizing Enterocolitis

As if the birth of a premature baby isn't stressful enough, there are a number of diseases premature babies can experience within the first weeks of life. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of them. "Necrotizing" means the death of tissue, "entero" refers to the small intestine, "colo" to the large intestine, and "itis" means inflammation. But knowing what the words mean is only the start of understanding this infant disease. What Is Necrot

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Intestinal Malrotation

An intestinal obstruction is a blockage of the digestive tract that prevents the proper passage of food. Some intestinal obstructions are present at birth, while others are caused by such problems as hernias, abnormal scar tissue growth after an abdominal operation, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Malrotation is twisting of the intestines (or bowel) caused by abnormal development while a fetus is in utero, and can cause obstruction. Malro

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The digestive system is a set of organs (including the stomach, large and small intestines, rectum, and others) that convert the foods we eat into nutrients and absorb these nutrients into the bloodstream to fuel our bodies. We seldom notice its workings unless something goes wrong, as in the case of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It's estimated that up to 1 million Americans have inflammatory bowel disease. It occurs most frequently in peop

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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Many adults, at one time or another, have experienced heartburn and an uncomfortable feeling in the chest after a big meal, or after eating spicy foods. When these symptoms are frequent or can't be attributed to certain ingredients, they may be due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). And the condition isn't just a problem for adults, it affects kids too. In infants, GERD can cause vomiting and fussiness after feeding. And in older kids a

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Constipation

Constipation is a very common problem among kids. A child is considered constipated when he or she has fewer than three bowel movements in a week; has difficulty having a bowel movement; or when the stools are hard, dry, and unusually large. Constipation usually isn't a cause for concern — it's preventable and most cases can be remedied with healthy eating and exercise habits. Causes of Constipation Most of the time, constipation in school-ag

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Neutropenia

If your child is diagnosed with cancer, it may feel as though you went to bed one night and woke up in an alternate universe. Suddenly there are all these new words — oncology, chemotherapy, radiation — not to mention a slew of new fears and emotions. Now the doctor is saying your child's immune system isn't strong enough for him or her to go to school or even visit family. If that's the case, chances are it's because your child has developed a

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Melanoma

Most people have never heard of neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that almost always occurs in infants and young children. It's actually the most common type of cancer in infants, but it's still rare enough that many doctors have never cared for a child with neuroblastoma. Although neuroblastoma sometimes forms before a child is born, it usually isn't found until later, when the tumor begins to grow and affect the body. When neuroblastoma is

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