Childhood Diseases & Disorders
Although the diseases of childhood are largely similar to those of the adult, there are several important differences. Certain specific disorders are unique to children; others, such as acute nephritis—inflammation of the kidney—are common in children and infrequent in adults. Additionally, a major segment of pediatric care concerns the treatment and prevention of congenital anomalies, both functional and structural.
Childhood Diseases & Disorders Encyclopedia Articles
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Kawasaki syndrome
Kawasaki syndrome, rare, acute inflammatory disease of unknown origin that is one of the leading causes of acquired heart disease in children. Kawasaki syndrome, which usually occurs in children of less...
rubella
Rubella, contagious viral disease that runs a mild and benign course in most people. Although rubella is not usually a serious illness in children or adults, it can cause birth defects or the loss of a...
measles
Measles, contagious viral disease marked by fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and a characteristic rash. Measles is most common in children but may appear in older persons who escaped it earlier in life. Infants...
Reye syndrome
Reye syndrome, acute neurologic disease that develops primarily in children following influenza, chicken pox, or other viral infections. It may result in accumulation of fat in the liver and swelling of...
polio
Polio, acute viral infectious disease of the nervous system that usually begins with general symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, fatigue, and muscle pains and spasms and is sometimes followed by...
chickenpox
Chickenpox, contagious viral disease characterized by an eruption of vesicles (small blisters) on the skin. The disease usually occurs in epidemics, and the infected persons are generally between two and...
whooping cough
Whooping cough, acute highly communicable respiratory disease characterized in its typical form by paroxysms of coughing followed by a long-drawn inspiration, or “whoop.” The coughing ends with the expulsion...
child behaviour disorder
Child behaviour disorder, any deviation in conduct that is aggressive or disruptive in nature, that persists for more than six months, and that is considered inappropriate for the child’s age. The vast...
mumps
Mumps , acute contagious disease caused by a virus and characterized by inflammatory swelling of the salivary glands. It frequently occurs as an epidemic and most commonly affects young persons who are...
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a behavioral syndrome characterized by inattention and distractibility, restlessness, inability to sit still, and difficulty concentrating on one thing...