Health Library

Articles In This Section

• Palliative Care

  Palliative care provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support to sick children and their families.

• Managing Home Health Care

  When kids need intensive health care after they're discharged from the hospital, family and caregivers should learn about the devices, equipment, and support they'll need.

• Diabetes: When to Call the Doctor

  Caring for a child with diabetes includes knowing when to get medical help. Learn more about when to call the doctor.

• Clinical Trials

  Deciding to enroll your child in a clinical study will depend on its potential benefits and risks, as well as your child's particular illness. Learn more.

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

  Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disease. It's a physical condition that also can also affect a person emotionally.

• Caring for Your Teen With Cerebral Palsy (CP): Age 13 and Up

  If your teen has cerebral palsy, there's a lot to know. This checklist makes it easy to determine what programs and services might be needed as your teen nears adulthood.

• Caring for Your Child With Cerebral Palsy (CP): Ages 6–12

  If you have a school-age child with cerebral palsy, there's a lot to know. This checklist makes it easy to find out what programs and services may be available to you.

• Words to Know: Transplants

  Easy-to-understand definitions of some key transplant terms.

• When Your Child’s in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

  It can be stressful whenever kids are in the hospital — and even more so when they're admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A basic understanding of the PICU can help you feel better prepared to help your child recover.

• Electronic Health Records

  Many health institutions digitally store their patients' health information. Learn about electronic health records (EHRs) and how they can improve health care.

• Getting Teens Involved in Their Health Care

  Involving teens in their health care can help prepare them for managing it on their own as adults.

• Finding Respite Care

  Finding that perfect person to care for your child can be a challenge. These resources can help.

• Camps for Kids With Special Needs

  There are many camp choices for kids with special needs. From highly specialized camps to regular camps that accommodate kids with special needs, options abound.

• Getting Support When Your Child Has Special Health Care Needs

  You might have more on your plate than most parents, but it doesn't mean you have to do it all alone. Here's how to ask for help and avoid caregiver burnout.

• Caring for Siblings of Kids With Disabilities

  Kids love their siblings. Often, those who have a brother or sister with special needs want to help. Here's how to help them feel loved and secure about their place in the family.

• Balancing Schoolwork and Hospital Stays

  When your child has a serious or chronic illness, it's hard to think beyond the next treatment. But with some planning, you can help your child balance schoolwork with hospital stays.

• Financial Planning for Kids With Disabilities

  These steps can help take the anxiety and worry out of your child's financial future and make sure that your child will be taken care of even after you're gone.

• Relaxation Techniques for Kids With Serious Illness

  Help ease your child's pain and anxiety with these exercises, complete with step-by-step instructions.

• Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School?

  It can be hard to know if kids are well enough to go to school or childcare. Here are some guidelines.

• Physical Therapy

  Doctors often recommend physical therapy for kids who have been injured or have movement problems from an illness, disease, or disability. Learn more about PT.

• Occupational Therapy

  Occupational therapy can help improve kids' cognitive, physical, and motor skills and build their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

• Does My Child Need an Antibiotic? (Video)

  Antibiotics are powerful medicines that can help kids feel better -- but only when they have certain illnesses. Find out if an antibiotic is right for your child.

• When Your Baby’s in the NICU

  Learn what a NICU visit will be like for your little one, what you can do to help, and how to find support for yourself.

• Radiation Therapy

  Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, irradiation, or X-ray therapy, is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment.

• Chemotherapy

  Chemotherapy (chemo) is treatment with medicines that stop the growth of cancer cells.

• Speech-Language Therapy

  Working with a certified speech-language pathologist can help a child with speech or language difficulties.

• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

  Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the use of a machine to do the work that the heart and lungs normally do.

• Congenital Heart Defects

  Heart defects happen when there's a problem with a baby's heart development during pregnancy. Most heart defects can be treated during infancy.

• Spina Bifida

  Spina bifida is a birth defect in infants that involves the incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings. Learn more about spina bifida. Learn More.

• Sanfilippo Syndrome

  Sanfilippo syndrome is a rare condition in which the body can't break down certain carbohydrates (sugars) in the blood, leading to serious problems in the brain and nervous system.

• RASopathies

  RASopathies are a group of genetic conditions caused by problems in the RAS pathway, which is one way cells in the body communicate.

• Neurofibromatosis Type 1

  Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition that causes benign tumors in and under the skin, often with bone, hormone, and other problems. Learn more about how it's diagnosed and treated.

• Neurocutaneous Syndromes

  Neurocutaneous syndromes are genetic disorders that lead to tumor growth in various parts of the body. Learn how to maximize the quality of life for children with these diseases.

• Legius Syndrome

  Legius syndrome is a rare genetic condition. Kids who have it have multiple café-au-lait spots on their skin and might be slower to walk, talk, and reach other milestones than most kids.

• If Your Baby Has a Birth Defect

  If your child has a birth defect, you don't have to go it alone - many people and resources are available to help you.

• Birth Defects

  Some birth defects are minor and cause no problems. Others can be serious and require lifelong treatment.

• Costello Syndrome

  Costello syndrome is a very rare disorder that affects multiple organ systems. It causes causes problems that affect a child's heart, muscles, bones, skin, brain, and spinal cord.

• Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) Syndrome

  Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome is a rare genetic condition. It affects the heart, facial features, and skin.