Common Conditions

A metered-dose inhaler sends medicine to the airways in your lungs. You must use the inhaler the right way for it to work. This video shows you how to use one with a spacer.

A metered-dose inhaler sends medicine to the airways in your lungs. You must use the inhaler the right way for it to work. This video shows you how to use one with a spacer and a mask.

Keeping up with school, friends, and all your other activities can sometimes make it hard to control your asthma. That's where your asthma action plan comes in. It can help you prevent and deal with an asthma attack.

This video shows how to use a nebulizer with a child.

What's That Mean: Incentive Spirometer

This condition is an abnormal curvature of the spine. It most often develops in early childhood, just before a child reaches puberty.

Your doctor has looked at your back and says something isn't quite right. Your back is curved instead of being straight. The doctor calls it "scoliosis." What does that mean, exactly? Well, let's learn about it together.

Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve sideways. It can develop during childhood or adolescence and can range from mild to severe. This video explains how scoliosis occurs and what treatments are available.

An inflammation and/or infection of the main breathing passages, bronchitis mostly needs lots of supportive care. Daniel and Lorrin, and a few funny friends, show the support tools and treatments needed.

There's nothing "new" about pneumonia. The Health Nuts Media kids give an overview of this serious lung infection.

Wheezing is a problem with the airways. It's a high-pitched whistling sound you can hear when your child breathes. Or, it may be so quiet that a doctor needs a stethoscope to hear it. Wheezing can be scary for parents.

This is a cancer of the blood cells. Commonly it affects white blood cells. It can also affect red blood cells and platelets.

Coping with pain is challenging, but there are some ways to lessen pain without medications and good rules to follow when using pain medicines.

Many children are born with a cleft palate, cleft lip, or both. In the U.S., about 1 out of every 1,500 babies is born with a cleft palate. Your baby's palate can be repaired so the mouth looks and works normally.

Your doctor says you have an "allergy." Maybe you can't be around something, like hay or cats. Maybe you have to be careful about what you eat. Or you've been told a bee sting could be very dangerous for you. But what is an allergy, exactly?

Allergies are a common problem for children. But what is an allergy, exactly? Well, it's an immune system problem. We say your child has an allergy when their immune system reacts to something that's normally harmless. We call these things "allergens."

Every child feels worried or afraid sometimes. Learning to cope with emotions is a normal part of growth and development. But sometimes, worries and fears don't go away. They can get worse. They can begin to take over your child's life. This is what we call "anxiety."

Peeing while sleeping is a problem for many children. It can be embarrassing for kids. And it can sometimes be frustrating for parents.

What's That Mean? - Blood Clots

Even though most of us treat others with kindness, there are some people who choose to be mean. They pick on kids who they think can't or won't fight back. We call this "bullying." It might happen to you. It might happen to a friend, or a kid you know. Let's talk about how to stop it.

Babies and children like to explore the world around them. That includes putting objects in their mouths. This is normal, but it can be dangerous. Here are some tips to keep your child from choking.

This is a serious brain injury. It happens when the brain violently bumps back and forth in the skull. A concussion can affect the way the brain functions. It can cause permanent problems.

You've bumped your head. The doctor says you have a "concussion." What does that mean? Let's learn all about this injury.

This is a swelling or inflammation of the conjunctiva. That's the thin membrane that lines the eye. Conjunctivitis is common in children of all ages.

It's hard to listen to your child cough. It's a constant reminder that something's wrong, and you want to help them get relief. Let's take a few minutes to learn more about coughing.

This disease causes a reaction to foods that have gluten. Gluten is a protein in wheat, rye and barley. When a child with celiac disease eats gluten, the body's immune system attacks and harms the small intestine. This makes it hard for the body to absorb nutrients.

Every child feels sad or even hopeless sometimes. Learning to cope with emotions is a normal part of growth and development. But sometimes, negative feelings begin to take over a child's life. Your child may lose interest in things they use to enjoy. This is "depression."

Are insect stings dangerous for your child? Bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets all cause painful stings. So do fire ants. Here's what you need to know.

This rare disease most commonly affects infants and young children. With it, blood vessels can become inflamed. Sometimes this inflammation affects blood vessels throughout the body. This can cause damage to the heart muscle and the heart valves.

It's a weekday, and your child doesn't feel well. Should you keep them home? Here are some tips to help you make the right call.

A fire, storm or other event can put your family in a tough spot. But with a little planning, you can make sure your family is safe. Here are some tips to help.

Electronic screens are a part of life for kids of all ages. TVs, computers, and tablets are all around us. But how much is too much? Let's learn more about what's right for your child.

A good night's sleep is especially important for children. They need more sleep than adults do. Here are some ways to help them get enough quality sleep at night.

Your young child wants to be by your side all the time. They get scared and upset when you need to leave them, even for a brief time. We call this "separation anxiety." Let's learn more about it, and how to manage it.

What's That Mean: Stopping Germs

An ear infection is a buildup of germs behind the eardrum, in the part of the ear called the "middle ear." For some infants and young children, ear infections are a continuing problem. They can come back again and again. We call these "chronic" ear infections.

It's a pain when kids have to deal with the sneezing, coughing, sore throat and fever of a common cold. But what, exactly, is a cold? What causes it, and how do we treat it?

This is an infection caused by one of the coxsackieviruses. These viruses infect the digestive system. Infections are most common in children. Hand, foot and mouth disease is one example of a disease caused by a coxsackievirus. There are others, too.

This is a common viral infection. It most often affects kids under age 10. It spreads easily from person to person.

Your child has a cough or cold, and you want to help them feel better. But do they need medicine? Are over-the-counter drugs right for kids? Should you get a prescription? Let's learn about your options.

This viral lung infection is more dangerous than a common cold, especially for young children. It can lead to hospitalization. It can be life-threatening.

Your child is sick. Do they have a common cold? Or could it be something more serious, like the flu? Here are some symptoms to watch out for, and when to get medical care.

It's no fun to be sick. And how do we get sick? Germs! They get on your hands when you touch things. Then, they get in your body and make you feel bad. But did you know there's a simple way to fight germs? It's as easy as washing your hands! Let's learn how to wash our hands the right way.

One of the easiest ways to stay healthy is to make sure everyone in your family washes their hands often. Hand washing keeps the harmful germs we touch from getting into our eyes, nose and mouth. And, it keeps us from spreading germs to others. So it's important to teach your kids how to wash their hands the right way.

When your child has a fever, it can be scary. Should you be worried? Should you call the doctor? It's not always easy to know what to do. So let's take a moment to learn about fevers in children.

You're sick, and the thermometer says your body is warmer than it should be. You have a fever. But have you ever wondered just what a fever is? How do we get fevers, and why?

This is a viral infection that often causes a rash on the cheeks. It's most common in children, but the virus can infect adults, too.

You're feeling sick, and you're having some trouble breathing. The doctor says you have "pneumonia." Let's learn all about it.

This is a bacterial infection of the throat. It spreads easily from person to person. It's most common in children, but adults can get it, too.

This is an inflammation and swelling of your child's sinuses. What are sinuses? They're a system of spaces lined with mucous membranes. They drain into the nose's nasal passages. There are four types of sinuses, but they don't all develop at the same time. We're born with two, near the nose and cheeks. The other two form by the end of adolescence.

This is an infection of any part of the urinary system. That's the system that collects and removes urine from the body.

Viral infections are common in children of all ages. But what are viruses, exactly? And what do I need to know to keep my child safe?

This set of symptoms develops in some children infected with COVID-19. It happens when different parts of the body become inflamed. It may develop days or weeks after becoming infected. It can be life-threatening.

Dehydration - being low on body fluids - can be very serious. Lorrin and Daniel explain its causes and cures.

Though we don't really need our appendix, it sure can cause problems when it gets inflamed. Daniel and Lorrin help explain what to expect when it needs to be removed.

Diarrhea is the passage of frequent, loose, or liquid stools. In an infant or child, it can be very serious. If it lasts for more than a day, the child is at risk of dehydration. It is important for parents to be able to recognize and treat dehydration.

This is when your child has trouble pooping. They may not do it often enough, and it may be hard for them to poop. Constipation is common in children of all ages. In most cases, it doesn't turn into a serious problem.

Pain in the belly area is a common problem for kids. Some complain about it often. Let's learn more about this pain, and when you should talk to a doctor.

This involves repeated episodes of nausea, vomiting and tiredness. They can happen regularly, and they may be linked to a trigger. Or, they can happen randomly. This disorder is most common in children. But adults can have it, too.

A hernia occurs when a section of bowel pushes out through a weakness in the muscle. The hernia looks like a bulge under the skin. In baby boys, a bulge in the scrotum is the most common type of hernia and is the result of a persistent canal between the scrotum and abdomen that normally closes when a fetus is developing. A hernia can move back into the abdomen through the passage. So you may not see the bulge all the time. You may see it most when your baby is straining (such as during crying, feeding, or a bowel movement).