Health Library

The Health Library is a collection of health and wellness resources created for learning and accessibility. Select a topic below for related health information or search for a topic in the search bar for more information on other medical conditions.

Child Neurology

  • Discusses causes, symptoms, medicines, home treatment, triggers, and prevention tips for children's migraine and tension headaches.

  • Meningococcal ACWY vaccine can help protect against meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y. A different meningococcal vaccine is available that can help protect against serogroup B. Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)...

  • Meningococcal B vaccine can help protect against meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B. A different meningococcal vaccine is available that can help protect against serogroups A, C, W, and Y. Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain...

  • Here's help understanding how your child's treatment plan can help manage and prevent seizures.

  • Find out what cochlear implant surgery is and how to prepare for it.

  • Find out what you can do at home to care for your child after a cochlear implant.

  • Learn what you can do to keep someone safe during a seizure and when you need to call emergency services.

  • Learn how to keep your child with epilepsy safer at home, outdoors, and at school.

  • What is a traumatic brain injury? A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from a mild concussion to a severe head injury. It is caused by a blow to the head or body, a wound that breaks through the skull (such as from a gunshot), a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain. This can cause bruising...

  • Like all children, those with disabilities need to be as active as possible. But children with disabilities are less likely to be physically active than other children. An inactive lifestyle for these children can lead to other problems, including:...

  • What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is a group of problems that affect body movement and posture. It is related to a brain injury or to problems with brain development. It is one of the most common causes of lasting disability in children. Cerebral palsy causes reflex movements that a person can't control and...

  • What is meningitis? Meningitis is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. It is usually caused by an infection. The infection occurs most often in children, teens, and young adults. Also at risk are older adults and people who have long-term health problems, such as a weakened immune system...

  • Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis is sometimes referred to as meningococcal disease. Some people have Neisseria meningitidis in their throats without getting sick. But they can pass it to another person, who may get sick. Neisseria...

  • Childhood absence epilepsy develops between ages 4 and 10. It causes very brief absence seizures that may include staring into space, eye fluttering, and slight muscle jerks. Juvenile absence epilepsy develops between ages 10 and 17 and causes...

  • Describes ketogenic diet and why it is used. Covers what to expect after treatment with diet as well as how well diet works. Lists risk factors and provides consideration points when using this treatment. Describes other special diets.

  • There are two types of stimulator devices for epilepsy. In both types, the devices send electrical signals to the brain to prevent the electrical bursts that cause seizures. The vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) is implanted under the skin, near your collarbone. A wire (lead) under the skin connects the device to electrodes...

  • If your child has epilepsy, there are many ways to lower his or her risk of injury and avoid embarrassment sometimes caused by seizures: Use waterproof pads on cribs and beds, and use padded side rails on your older child's bed. But don't use sleep...

  • After you have had a seizure, it can be difficult to predict whether you will have more seizures. This makes it hard to decide whether to begin treatment for epilepsy. The first seizure you report may not actually be the first seizure you've had....

  • There are many myths about Tourette's disorder (TD). Myth Truth "Everyone who has Tourette's disorder uses obscene words and gestures." Most people who have the condition do not have this symptom. "People who have Tourette's disorder often 'blow up'...

  • Infantile spasms (West syndrome) are muscle spasms that affect a child's head, torso, and limbs. Infantile spasms usually begin before the age of 6 months. Most children with infantile spasms have below-average intelligence. More than half have...

  • Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy develops between ages 12 and 18. People with the disorder tend to have seizures that cause jerking in the shoulders or arms. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures and absence seizures may be present along with myoclonic...

  • Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe form of childhood epilepsy that causes frequent seizures. Several types of seizures are usually present at the same time, including atonic or tonic seizures. These seizures can cause injury. Lennox-Gastaut...

  • Temporal lobe epilepsy involves the portions of the brain that control emotions and memory. The temporal lobes are located on each side of the head just above the ears at the temples. Temporal lobe epilepsy can cause both partial and generalized...

  • At one time or another, everyone has had a minor facial injury that caused pain, swelling, or bruising. Home treatment is usually all that is needed for mild bumps or bruises. Causes of facial injuries Facial injuries most commonly occur during: Sports or recreational activities, such as ice hockey, basketball...

  • Discusses fever seizures (also called fever convulsions) caused by a rapid rise in body temperature in a short period of time. Offers home treatment and prevention tips. Includes interactive tool to help you decide when to seek care.

  • Looks at common causes of minor and serious head injuries. Discusses possible head injury emergencies. Offers tool to help you check symptoms and decide when to call a doctor. Offers home treatment and prevention tips.

  • Provides overview of head injuries in those age 3 and younger. Offers tool to help you check symptoms and decide when to see doctor. Discusses emergency symptoms and when to seek care. Offers prevention tips.

  • Epilepsy that causes partial seizures is sometimes called focal epilepsy, because the seizures start at a specific focus or location within the brain. In people with this type of disorder, the electrical charges that cause seizures begin in a...

  • Simple partial seizures occur in children and adults with some forms of epilepsy. They are about half as common as complex partial seizures. The person stays awake and aware during the seizure. The seizure may be only a strange smell or taste, sound...

  • Most women who have epilepsy deliver healthy babies. But the risk of birth defects, stillbirth, and seizure-related problems is higher for babies born to women with epilepsy. Most antiepileptic medicines increase the risk even more. If you have...

  • Covers different types of epilepsy and its causes. Addresses complications of seizures and lists risk factors. Guides through decision regarding when to call doctor. Covers exams/tests, treatments, medicines, and surgeries. Provides home treatment tips.

  • If you have seizures that alter your awareness, consciousness, or muscle control, you may not have the legal right to drive. Laws vary from state to state, but in many cases you have to be seizure-free for at least 6 months to 1 year before you can...

  • Epilepsy that causes generalized seizures is more common in children than in adults. Partial seizures start in a specific, often damaged area in the brain. But generalized seizures can't be traced to a specific location or focus. The abnormal...

  • Generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures are the easiest seizures to recognize. They happen most often in people with generalized epilepsy of unknown cause. A generalized tonic-clonic seizure begins with a sudden loss of consciousness. During...

  • Myoclonic seizures affect a small number of children and adults with generalized epilepsy of unknown cause (idiopathic). In children and teens with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, the seizures seem to occur most often after waking up or while falling...

  • An atonic seizure is a sudden loss of muscle tone in the muscles that hold the body and head upright. The seizure occurs without warning and usually causes the person to fall down. Some atonic seizures may be more limited, only causing the person's...

  • Tonic seizures are fairly uncommon. They occur mostly in people with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. This is a severe form of generalized epilepsy that begins in early childhood. (Children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome may also have atonic seizures.) When a...

  • Complex partial seizures occur in children and adults with certain forms of epilepsy. They are the most common type of seizure in adults. An aura may occur at the beginning of a seizure. It may consist of a strange smell, taste, sound, or visual...

  • Medicine therapy for epilepsy can fail for several reasons: You do not follow the treatment plan. You have to follow your therapy routine exactly as your doctor orders, to have the best chance of keeping seizures under control. Missing a dose here or there or taking doses too close together can upset the...

  • It is easy to understand people's reasons for wanting to stop medicine. Some reasons are side effects and drug toxicity, the cost and inconvenience of medicine, and, for women who want to have children, the higher risk of birth defects associated with some epilepsy medicines. If you have not had a seizure in several...

  • While working with your doctor to plan a medicine routine for yourself or your child, it may help you to talk about some of the choices and issues involved. Some of the following questions might help you prepare. Some medicines for epilepsy have to...

  • Children with Down syndrome can learn to eat by themselves with your help and encouragement. Eating independently is a developmental milestone that involves the use of small muscles (fine motor skills), large muscles (gross motor skills), and...

  • As your child with Down syndrome enters puberty, grooming and hygiene become increasingly important. Your child may need to learn new habits to stay well groomed. Cleanliness is very important for proper socialization and acceptance by peers. Stress...

  • Children with Down syndrome have reduced muscle tone, which can delay development of their motor skills. Children with delays may roll over, sit up, pull up, stand, and walk later than other children their age. Encourage motor skill development...

  • Children with Down syndrome usually have delayed speech and language development. Typically, these children have a much harder time learning to talk (expressive language) than with understanding what they hear (receptive language). On average,...

  • What is Down syndrome? Down syndrome is a set of physical and mental traits caused by a gene problem that happens before birth. Children who have Down syndrome tend to have certain features, such as a flat face and a short neck. They also have some degree of intellectual disability. This varies from person to person...

  • Spina bifida is a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect. It occurs when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) don't form properly around part of the baby's spinal cord. Spina bifida can be mild or severe. The mild form is the most common. It...

  • What is Tourette's disorder? Tourette's disorder is a brain condition that starts in childhood. Children with Tourette's make sounds or movements—such as coughing or twitching—that they can't control. These are called tics. Tics usually start at about age 2. They may be at their worst by age 12. Tics tend to decrease...

  • What is congenital hydrocephalus? Congenital hydrocephalus is a buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain at birth. The extra fluid can increase pressure in the baby's brain, causing brain damage and mental and physical problems. This condition is rare. Finding the condition early and treating it...

  • What is speech and language development? Speech and language are the skills we use to communicate with others. We form these skills during the first years of life. By age 6, most children learn the basics. Try to talk and read to your child often to boost these skills. What is the difference between speech and...

  • What is Reye syndrome? Reye syndrome is a rare but serious disease that most often affects children ages 6 to 12 years old. It can cause brain swelling and liver damage. It may be related to using aspirin to treat viral infections. Reye syndrome can lead to brain damage, liver damage, and death. But if the...

  • Childhood astrocytomas are tumors that start in the star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes. An astrocyte is a type of glial cell. Glial cells hold nerve cells in place, bring food and oxygen to them, and help protect them from disease, such as infection. Gliomas are tumors that form from glial cells. An astrocytoma...

  • Assess changes in your child's behavior that might mean a hearing loss. Compare present behavior with past behavior. Does your child: Listen to speech? Turn to you when you speak? Smile when spoken to? Seem to recognize your voice? Quiet his or her crying when you speak? Startle or cry at noises? Awaken to loud...

  • Assess changes in your child's behavior that might mean a hearing loss. Compare past behavior with present behavior. Does your child: Listen when spoken to? Turn or look up when you call his or her name? Respond to requests like "come here" or "want more?" Recognize words for common items like cup, shoe, or juice?

  • Assess changes in your child's behavior that might mean a hearing loss. Compare present behavior with past behavior. Also, pay attention to the quality of your child's speech. Children must be able to hear well for normal speech and language to develop. Does your child: Listen to simple stories, songs, or rhymes...

  • Assess changes in your child's behavior that might indicate a hearing loss. Compare present behavior with past behavior. Does your child: Follow two requests, such as "Get the ball and put it on the table?" Continue to notice sounds, such as a telephone ringing, television sounds, or knocking at the door?

  • Covers symptoms of seizures caused by epilepsy, other health problems, or medicine. Explains why seizures, or convulsions, occur. Covers home treatment. Includes interactive tool the help you decide when to see a doctor.

  • What to watch for after a head injury A minor head injury is sometimes hard to distinguish from a more serious injury to the brain even when there is no visible bleeding or injury on the outside of the skull. Check for the following changes immediately after a head injury: A significant change in the child's level...

  • Minor cuts on the head often bleed heavily because the face and scalp have many blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. Although this amount of bleeding may be alarming, many times the injury is not severe and the bleeding will stop with treatment you can do at home. But it is important to know the difference...

  • Children with sensory processing disorder have difficulty processing information from the senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing) and responding appropriately to that information. These children typically have one or more senses...

  • You may be taking one or more medicines to prevent seizures. To get the most benefit from them, you need to consistently take the right dose of the right medicine at the right time. This can be difficult. But by following a few key tips, you can do it. Become informed about the medicines you are taking. Learn their...

  • People with nonepileptic seizures (NES) have periods of seizure-like activity. NES are characterized by a loss of or change in physical function without a central nervous system problem. The loss or change causes periods of physical activity or inactivity that resemble epileptic seizures. A person can have both...

  • By the age of 4, your child may tell you he or she is having trouble hearing or understanding others. You can ask your child questions about his or her hearing. You can also assess changes in your child's behavior that might mean a hearing loss. Compare present behavior with past behavior. Does your child: Follow...

  • What is a concussion? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. Although there may be cuts or bruises on the head or face, there may be no other visible signs of a brain injury. You...

  • Anyone who has a head injury during a sporting event needs to immediately stop all activity and not return to play that day. Being active again before the brain returns to normal functioning increases the person's risk of having a more serious brain injury. Every person involved in a sporting event (every coach...

  • Briefly describes seizures. Lists ways to help someone during and after a seizure. Covers things to watch for during a seizure as well as when to seek medical attention.

  • The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) of 1975 is a federal law. It is also known as Public Law 94–142. It requires public schools to provide appropriate educational services for all children with disabilities between ages 3 and 21....

  • What is stuttering? Stuttering is a speech problem in which you may repeat, draw out, not complete, or skip words or sounds without meaning to. The problem can range from mild to severe. Stuttering that starts during a child's early language-learning years (ages 2 through 7 years) and goes away on its own before...

  • Normal disfluency is stuttering that begins during a child's intensive language-learning years and resolves on its own sometime before puberty. It is considered a normal phase of language development. About 75 out of 100 children who stutter get better without treatment. The most common normal disfluency in children...

  • A child's failure to reach speech and language milestones as expected may be a "red flag," or warning, meaning a speech and language development problem. If your child does not reach developmental milestones on schedule, it does not necessarily mean there is a problem. But he or she should be evaluated by a health...

  • Orthopedic surgery is used to treat tight muscles and spasticity related to cerebral palsy. An incision is made in the skin over the affected muscle. Parts of the muscle are then cut to release the tightness.

  • Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is the most common nerve surgery for symptoms related to cerebral palsy (CP). During SDR, a surgeon cuts the skin over the lower part of the spinal cord. The surgeon then finds and cuts the nerves in the cord that are causing muscle tightness in the legs.

  • Your child may have developmental delays as well as other problems that can make children, teens, and adults who have Down syndrome vulnerable to abuse, injury, and other types of harm. You can help manage and prevent these types of problems by...

  • People with Down syndrome usually have some level of independence by the time they become adults. Different types of specialized therapies, counseling, and training can help them learn necessary skills and manage emotional issues. The common types...

  • Children with Down syndrome who do not have severe physical disabilities can learn to dress themselves. Teach your child how to dress himself or herself by taking extra time to explain and practice. Explain what you are doing when you dress your...

  • Being a parent of a child with physical, emotional, or behavioral problems can be exhausting. Try to take good care of your physical and emotional health. Doing so will help provide you with needed energy to care for your child with special needs....

  • Significant speech and language delays are directly related to developmental or health issues. But some people blame speech and language delays on factors that are not the cause of true delays, such as: Developmental variation. Mild and temporary speech delays can occur. And some children learn new words...

  • Kernicterus is a very rare type of brain damage that occurs in a newborn with severe jaundice. It happens when a substance in the blood, called bilirubin, builds up to very high levels and spreads into the brain tissues. This causes permanent brain...

  • Your child's tics related to Tourette's disorder may seem worse in certain situations or during times when he or she experiences strong emotions. Common triggers include: Stressful events, such as a family fight or poor performance at school....

  • If your baby is born with Down syndrome, you will likely have many questions and strong emotions. Your doctor can help answer your questions. And he or she can guide you to appropriate resources to help you manage your feelings and plan for your...

  • If your baby is born with Down syndrome, you will likely have many questions and strong emotions. Your doctor can help answer your questions. And he or she can guide you to appropriate resources to help you manage your feelings and plan for your...

  • If your child who has Down syndrome is between the ages of 1 and 5 years, you will likely have ongoing questions and concerns. Your doctor can help answer your questions and guide you to appropriate resources to help you manage your feelings and...

  • If your child with Down syndrome is between the ages of 5 and 13, you will likely have ongoing questions and concerns. Your doctor can help answer your questions. And he or she can guide you to appropriate resources to help you manage your feelings...

  • If your child with Down syndrome is an adolescent or young adult between the ages of 13 and 21, you will likely have ongoing questions and concerns. Your doctor can help answer your questions. And he or she can guide you to appropriate resources...

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