What is muscular dystrophy? Muscular dystrophy is a disease of the nerves and muscles. The best treatment for muscular dystrophy depends on the type and progression. It is treated with physical therapy, medication and surgery. There is no cure for muscular dystrophy, but treatment can help you maintain your independence and strengthen your muscles. With...
Stuttering (child-onset fluency disorder) is a speech disorder that involves significant problems with normal fluency and flow of speech. The possible causes of stuttering are developmental (problems in speech control, genetics) or neurogenic (traumatic brain injury, stroke or other brain disorders). Stuttering (child-onset fluency disorder) is a speech disorder that involves significant problems with normal...
What is otoplasty? Otoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure to reduce the prominence and shape of unusually large or protruding ears. Otoplasty is a type of cosmetic ear surgery to reshape the ear, improving its structure and/or function. Some of the early otoplasty surgeries were done mainly to improve the appearance of the ears after...
Mesenteric lymphadenitis is an inflammatory condition that causes swollen lymph nodes in the stomach Mesenteric lymphadenitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the lymph nodes in the mesentery, which is the membrane that connects the bowel to the abdominal wall. It mainly affects children and teens. This painful condition can mimic appendicitis or intussusception, a...
What causes fragile X syndrome? Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that leads to developmental delays and other problems. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder. It is passed down from parents to their children. A genetic disorder means the genes of either parent are faulty. A gene is the basic unit of...
What is Down syndrome? Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that is caused by abnormal cell division. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by abnormal cell division resulting in chromosomal abnormality. Abnormalities include an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. This genetic abnormality leads to developmental and physical changes that are characteristic...
One in every 10 baby boys has hydrocele at birth. Hydrocele occurs when the tube that allows the testicles to move from the abdomen to the scrotum doesn't close. One in every 10 baby boys has hydrocele at birth. In many cases, it gets better on its own by two years of age. Hydrocele is...
A sports physical exam is also called preparticipation physical examination (PPE) or sports physical. At a sports physical for a teenage girl, the doctor will take a detailed medical history and perform a medical exam to clear your daughter to participate in sports. Staying physically active is important for everyone. Starting early is always good...
Scratches are superficial wounds that do not penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. Scratches are superficial wounds that do not penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. They are one of the commonest types of injuries. We all get scratches often such as scratches due to sharp edges of objects, animal scratches, and scratches...
What is a heel stick? The heel stick test for newborns is a quick prick on the heel of the baby using a lancet. This is the least traumatic way to draw blood from infants for routine testing. Heel stick is the most common and minimally invasive method to draw capillary blood from an infant...