Most blood tests take only a few minutes. They’re done at some doctor’s offices, and at community labs, diagnostic centers, and hospitals. A doctor, nurse, or phlebotomist (fleh-BOT-eh-mist, someone ...

We see and hear about hearts everywhere. A long time ago, people even thought that their emotions came from their hearts, maybe because the heart beats faster when a person is scared or excited. Now ...

Some babies are born with a condition called Goldenhar syndrome. It can cause incomplete development of bones in the face, affecting the ears, nose, soft palate, lips, and jaw. Usually, this happens ...

Earaches are common in kids and can have many causes. Here’s why they happen and what to do when your child complains of ear pain. Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed to ease pain (check the ...

What Is Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis? Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA is a group of disorders that causes arthritis ...

It’s normal for people to masturbate (touch or rub their own genitals because they like the way it feels). Some people do it to relieve stress or tension. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed ...

How Does Air Enter the Respiratory System? Air enters the respiratory system through the nose or the mouth. If it goes in the nostrils (also called nares), the air is warmed and humidified. Tiny hairs ...

What Is the Apgar Score? The Apgar score is a test given to newborns soon after birth. This test checks a baby's heart rate, muscle tone, and other signs to see if extra medical care or emergency care ...

Did you know you have more than 600 muscles in your body? They do everything from pumping blood throughout your body to helping you lift your heavy backpack. You control some of your muscles, while ...

Walking pneumonia is a less serious form of the lung infection pneumonia. It's often caused by bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae, but other bacteria or viruses can also cause it. Most kids with ...

Oral thrush is a very common yeast infection in babies. It causes irritation in and around a baby's mouth. Oral thrush (also called oral candidiasis) can affect anyone, but is most common in babies ...

Both the brain and the spinal cord are protected by bone: the brain by the bones of the skull, and the spinal cord by vertebrae, a set of ring-shaped bones. They're both cushioned by layers of ...