Health Library A to Z

D

• Baby's Care in the Delivery Room
A newborn baby is wet from the amniotic fluid and can easily become cold. Drying the baby and using warm blankets and heat lamps can help prevent heat loss. Often a knitted hat is placed on the baby's head.

• CDC to Advise Return to Masks Indoors for Some Vaccinated Americans

• Cystic Fibrosis and the Digestive System
In the digestive system, cystic fibrosis (CF) mainly affects the pancreas. A child with CF has trouble absorbing fats, as well as some proteins and vitamins.

• Dads' Health Linked to Odds of Pregnancy Loss in Moms-to-Be

• Daily Aspirin Can Lower Colon Cancer Risk, But Age Matters

• Daily Average of COVID Hospitalizations in US Hits 100,000

• Daily Coffee Tied to Lower Risk for Heart Failure

• Daily Green Tea, Coffee Tied to Lower Risk for 2nd Heart Attack, Stroke

• Daily Half-Hour Walk Can Greatly Boost Survival After Stroke

• Dairy Foods May Be Good for You After All

• Dance Injuries Jump in United States

• Dangerous COVID-19 Syndrome First Seen in Kids Also Strikes Adults

• Dangerous Diabetes Tied to Pregnancy Is on the Rise

• Dangerous 'Drunkorexia' Hits College Campuses

• Dangerously Hot Days for U.S. Farm Workers Could Double by 2050

• Darse atracones y picotear por estrés: cómo la pandemia está cambiando los hábitos de alimentación

• Data Doesn't Support Need for COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters: Experts

• Dating on V-Day? Why Some Are Better at a Good First Impression

• Daydreaming? Study Shows Where Your Brain Goes When You Do

• Daylight Saving Time Change Toughest on Night Owls

• Daytime Napping May Be in Your Genes

• Deadly Liver Disease Tied to Obesity Is on the Rise

• Dealing With Grief in the Time of COVID

• Death Rates Are Rising Across Rural America

• Death Risk Nearly Doubles When COVID Strikes People With Heart Failure

• Death Threats, Trolling Common for Scientists Who Speak to Media About COVID

• Debunking Myths That Have Some Parents Resisting COVID Vaccines for Teens

• Debunking Social Media Myth, Study Finds COVID Vaccine Won't Harm Placenta

• Defense Department Isn't Protecting Service Members From Toxic 'Forever Chemicals': Audit

• Definition of 'Dog Years' Not as Simple as Multiplying by 7

• Delayed Puberty
Puberty that happens late is called delayed puberty. This means a child's physical signs of sexual maturity don’t appear by age 12 in girls or age 14 in boys. This includes breast or testicle growth, pubic hair, and voice changes. These are known as secondary sexual characteristics.

• Delayed Surgery for Early Breast Cancer Won't Harm Survival: Study

• Delirium May Be Only Sign of Severe COVID in Elderly: Study

• Delta Variant Convinced Many to Get Vaccinated: Poll

• Delta Variant Has Americans' Stress Levels Rising Again: Poll

• Delta Variant Now Fueling 99% of U.S. COVID Cases

• Delta Variant Subtype on Rise in U.K.

• Dental Emergencies
One type of dental emergency is a knocked-out tooth. If it's a permanent tooth, rinse it and place it back in the socket. Then immediately take your child to the dentist.

• Dental Health and Children
Detailed information on dental health in children

• Dental Health Overview
Generally, dental examinations and cleanings are recommended every six months for children. Encourage good oral hygiene at home by helping your child brush his or her own teeth.

• Dental Practices Rebound as U.S. Dentists Look Forward to COVID Vaccine

• Dental Procedures for Children
Detailed information on the most common dental procedures, including braces, bleaching, bridges, dentures, dental implants, fillings, root canal, sealants, and wisdom teeth extraction

• Dental Restorations (Fillings)
Teeth that have tooth decay must be repaired. Advances in dental materials and techniques provide new, effective ways to restore teeth.

• Depressed Teens May Struggle in School

• Depression Can Be a Killer for People With MS

• Depression During Menopause: How to Spot It and Treat It

• Depression During Pregnancy Raises Risk of Mood Disorder in Kids

• Depression in Youth Ups Odds for Adult Illnesses: Study

• Depression May Hinder Recovery From Narrowed Arteries

• Depression Often Follows Stroke, and Women Are at Higher Risk

• Depression Plagues Many Coal Miners With Black Lung Disease

• Depression, Anxiety Could Raise a Pregnant Woman's Odds for C-Section

• Dermatitis in Children
Detailed information on dermatitis, including the different types of dermatitis such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), contact dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, generalized exfoliative dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, localized scratch dermatitis, nummular dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis

• Dermoid Cyst in Children
A dermoid cyst is a collection of tissue under the skin. It may contain hair follicles, oil, and sweat glands.

• Despite Medical Advances, People With HIV Still Live Shorter, Sicker Lives

• Despite Pandemic's Toll, Many Older Adults Don't Have Living Wills

• Despite Predictions, Loneliness Not Rising for Americans Under Lockdown

• Despite Pressures of Pandemic, U.S. Nursing School Enrollment Climbs

• Despite Reopening, Britain Sees 6 Straight Days of Declines in COVID Cases

• Despite Setbacks, Reason for Hope Against COVID as 2020 Ends

• Despite Threat of Lyme Disease, Tick Control Lags Across U.S.

• Developmental Disorders
Detailed information on developmental disorders in children

• Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Children
In a normal hip joint, the top (head) of the thighbone (femur) fits snugly into the hip socket. In a child with DDH, the hip socket is shallow. As a result, the head of the femur may slip in and out.

• Device Used for Thousands of Years Eases Major Cause of Female Urinary Problems

• Dexamethasone Can Help the Sickest COVID Patients Survive. So Why Are Too Few Getting It?

• Diabetes Boosts Odds for Heart Trouble 10-fold in Younger Women

• Diabetes Can Lead to Amputations, But Stem Cell Treatment Offers Hope

• Diabetes Drug Might Help Women With Preeclampsia Prolong Their Pregnancy

• Diabetes During Pregnancy Could Raise Lifelong Heart Risks for Children

• Diabetes During Pregnancy: Risks to the Baby
When a mother has diabetes, her baby is at risk for problems. Read on to learn more.

• Diabetes in Pregnancy Tied to Eye Issues in Kids

• Diabetes Index
Detailed information on diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, teens and diabetes, and diet and diabetes

• Diabetes Insipidus in Children
Diabetes insipidus is a condition caused by not enough antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in the body. ADH is also known as vasopressin. This is a hormone that helps the kidneys keep the correct amount of water in the body. The condition is also called “water diabetes.”

• Diabetes Is Deadlier for Black Americans: Study

• Diabetes While Pregnant Ups Odds for Heart Disease Later

• Diabetes, High Blood Pressure Raise Odds of COVID Harming Brain

• Diagnosing and Evaluating Heart Disease in Children
Detailed information on diagnosing and evaluating heart disease in children

• Diagnostic Tests for Neurological Disorders in Children
Detailed information on the most common diagnostic tests for neurological disorders in children

• Dialysis
Detailed information on dialysis, including peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis

• Dialysis Patients Have Weaker Response to COVID Vaccine: Study

• Diaper Dermatitis in Children
Diaper dermatitis is inflammation of the skin in the diaper area. It’s a very common condition in babies and toddlers.

• Diapers and Diaper Rash
You have 2 choices in diapers--cloth or disposable. Each type has advantages and disadvantages. Decide which works best for your child and family.

• Diaphragmatic Hernia in Children
A diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect. It happens in a baby during pregnancy. In this condition, there’s an opening in your baby’s diaphragm. This is the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.

• Did a Ban on Flavored Vapes Raise Teen Smoking Rates?

• Did CBD Oil for Seizures Push a 2-Year-Old Boy Into Puberty?

• Did Columbus Really Introduce Syphilis to Europe?

• Did Obamacare Expand Access to Insurance for Minorities? In Some U.S. States, Hardly at All

• Did People Smoke More or Less During the Pandemic?

• Did the Movie 'Joker' Reinforce Prejudice Against Mentally Ill?

• Did the New Coronavirus Come From Pangolins? New Study Says It's Possible

• Did You Mean to Drop That Treat? Your Dog Knows

• Diet and Diabetes
It's important to learn about proper meal-planning when your child has diabetes. The type and amount of food your child eats affects their blood sugar levels.

• Diet Change Cured One Woman's Rare Leg Ulcers

• Diet Drinks Don't Do Your Heart Any Favors

• Diet High in Processed Meats Could Shorten Your Life

• Diet Key to Better Health in People With Diabetes

• Diet Pill Use Could Be a Step Away From Eating Disorder

• Difficulty with Latching On or Sucking
Detailed information on problems with latching-on or sucking during breastfeeding, and how to handle them.

• Digestive and Liver Disorders
Detailed information on digestive and liver disorders during pregnancy

• Digestive Disorders
Detailed information on the most common digestive disorders in high-risk newborns

• Diphtheria in Children
A detailed look at diphtheria, including symptoms, treatment, and a vaccination schedule.

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus are serious illnesses. A combination vaccine is given to babies and children to provide protection against all 3 diseases.

• Dirtier Air May Bring More COVID-19 Deaths

• Dirty Air Could Raise COVID Risks for People With Asthma, COPD

• Dirty Air Endangers Homeless People: Study

• Dirty Air in Pregnancy Might Raise Baby's Obesity Risk

• Dirty City Air Might Raise MS Risk

• Disappointment and Hope From Two HIV Prevention Trials

• Disasters Leave a Rise in Suicides in Their Wake: Study

• Discharge from the Hospital
Even after minor surgery, some children will remain in the hospital overnight for observation and to receive medicines to help with pain or to prevent infection.

• Discipline
Detailed information on disciplining a child, including information on time-out, temper tantrum, lying, stealing, and television and children

• Discovery Could Explain Why Black Americans More Prone to Colon Cancer

• Discussing Death with Children
The ultimate goal in discussing death with a dying child is to optimize his or her comfort and alleviate any fears. If the child is not ready to discuss death, the most helpful step parents can take is to wait until he or she is ready.

• Dislocations in Children
A dislocation is a joint injury. It occurs when the ends of 2 connected bones come apart. Dislocations happen more often among teens. 

• Disorders Affecting Calcium Metabolism
Detailed information on disorders affecting calcium metabolism, including juvenile osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, and DiGeorge syndrome

• Disorders Affecting the Adrenal Glands
Detailed information on disorders affecting the adrenal glands, including underactive adrenal glands (Addison's disease), overactive adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome), and pheochromocytoma

• Disorders Affecting the Pituitary Gland
Detailed information on disorders affecting the pituitary gland, including posterior anterior disorders and anterior pituitary disorders

• Disorders Affecting the Thyroid
Detailed information on disorders affecting the thyroid gland, including hyperthyroidism (Graves disease) and hypothyroidism

• Disorders of Sex Development
When a child's gender is in question at birth, the child has atypical genitalia (ambiguous genitalia). This means that the genitals don't seem to be clearly male or female.

• Disorders of the Brain and Nervous System
Detailed information on the most common disorders of the brain and nervous system in high-risk newborns

• Disparities in Stroke Care Put Rural Americans at Risk: Study

• DIY Projects Can Be Prime Time for Foot Injuries

• DNA Analysis Might Reveal Melanoma Risk

• DNA Sensor Can Spot When COVID Is Contagious

• Do Bedbugs Dirty the Air Inside Your Home?

• Do C-Section Babies Become Heavier Adults?

• Do Fasting Diets Really Work? New Study Finds Little Benefit

• Do Fatter Legs Mean Lower Blood Pressure?

• Do Genes Doom Some Kids to Obesity? Probably Not, Study Finds

• Do Gut Microbes Play a Role in Anorexia?

• Do Minority Kids Face More Danger During Surgeries?

• Do Ordinary Eyeglasses Offer Protection Against COVID-19?

• Do Prescription Sleep Medicines Even Work?

• Do Touchscreens Make Your Toddler More Distractible?

• Do Women or Men Make the Best Doctors?

• Do You Live in a U.S. Opioid OD Hotspot?

• Do You Socially Distance? Your Income Might Matter

• Do You 'Wolf Down' Your Food? Speedy Eaters May Pack on More Pounds

• Do Your Genes Set You Up for Hot Flashes?

• Do Your Genes Up Your Odds for Alcoholism? One Factor Cuts the Risk

• Do Your Keys, Phone, Money Need Disinfecting When You Return Home?

• Do Your Sleep Patterns Affect Your Risk of Alzheimer's Disease?

• Doctors' Choice of Anesthesia Could Help Curb Climate Change

• Doctors' Group Says Antibiotics Can Be Taken for Shorter Periods

• Doctors May Be Overprescribing Opioids After Surgeries

• Doctors Often Miss Signs of Type 1 Diabetes in Kids

• Doctors Report That Kidney Grown in Pig Worked in a Human

• Doctors Should Watch for Punctured Lungs in COVID Patients

• Dodge Depression During Coronavirus Pandemic

• Does an Arthritis Drug Help Patients Battling Severe COVID? It Depends on the Study

• Does COVID Harm the Heart? New Study Says Maybe Not

• Does Getting High Give You Great Business Ideas? Yes and No, New Study Finds

• Does Having a Dog Make for Well-Adjusted Kids?

• Does Hostility Predispose You to a Second Heart Attack?

• Does Medical Marijuana Help or Harm Kids With Cancer?

• Does Parents' Nagging Kids About Screen Time Even Matter?

• Does 'Prediabetes' Lead to Full-Blown Diabetes? Age May Be Key

• Does Too Much 'Screen Time' Have Your Preschooler Acting Out?

• Does TV And Computer Time Affect Kids' Math, Reading?

• Dogs <i>Do</i> Want to Rescue Trapped Owners, Experiments Show

• Dogs and Kids Are 'In Sync,' Study Shows

• Dogs and Their Humans Share Same Diabetes Risk: Study

• Do-It-Yourself COVID Tests Work Fine, Without the Discomfort: Study

• Domestic Violence May Have Risen Under Stay-at-Home Rules

• Don't Be a 'Hot-Head': Study Suggests Head Overheating Impairs Thinking

• Don't Believe in God? You Might Sleep Better at Night

• Don't Believe Vaccine Myths

• Don't Count on Vitamin D to Ease Childhood Asthma

• Don't Cut Back on Asthma Meds During Pandemic, Expert Advises

• Don't Delay Dental Visits During Pandemic

• Don't Delay Lung Cancer Surgery, Study Suggests

• Don't Delay Your Cancer Screenings, Surgeons' Group Urges

• Don't Get Sick While Swimming This Summer

• Don't Let COVID-19 Scuttle Your Child's Health Exams

• Don't Let the Coronavirus Pandemic Rob You of Your Sleep

• Don't Linger: 'Aerosolized Droplets' Hang in the Air After Toilet Flush

• Don't Overdo the Halloween Candy, or Your Smile May Suffer

• Don't Schedule Your Operation on Your Surgeon's Birthday

• Don't Use Veterinary Drug Ivermectin Against COVID, FDA Warns

• Don't Wait to Lose Weight: Shedding Obesity in Youth Extends Life

• Doorway Study Reveals How Anorexia Changes 'Body Awareness'

• Double Lung Transplants Save Lives of Sickest COVID Patients

• Double Trouble: Wildfire Smoke Could Boost Odds for COVID's Spread

• Double Trouble: Wildfires Can Raise COVID Risks

• Doubly Good: Healthy Living Cuts Your Odds for the 2 Leading Killers

• Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) in Children
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that includes certain birth defects, learning problems, and facial features. Read on to learn more details about this disorder.

• Dozens of Mammals May Be at Risk for Coronavirus Infection

• Dr. Rahul Gupta to Be Nominated as Next U.S. Drug Czar

• Drink Up! Coffee Won't Harm Your Heart, Study Finds

• Drink Up! Humans Are the 'Water-Saving Apes'

• Drinking at Home: Liquor Store Sales Rose During Pandemic

• Drinking Too Much During the Pandemic? You're Not Alone

• Drinking, Drunk, Deadly: Know the Signs of Alcohol Overdose

• Drivers May Be Inhaling Dangerous Carcinogens Inside Their Cars

• Driving Hazards Differ for Teens With Autism

• Drop in Life Expectancy From COVID Much Worse for Black, Hispanic Americans

• Drowning Deaths for U.S. Kids Have Fallen 38% Since 1999

• Drug Combo May Be Safe, Effective Therapy for Rare Leukemia

• Drug Combo May Boost Survival for Tough-to-Treat Liver Cancers

• Drug Combo Offers Hope Against Advanced Bladder Cancer

• Drug Could Be Promising New Option Against Eczema

• Drug Could Boost Survival From Lung Cancer Affecting Non-Smokers

• Drug Improves Survival for Rare, Deadly Kidney Cancer

• Drug Lynparza Could Help Fight Some Early-Stage Breast Cancers

• Drug May Boost Thinking Skills in People With Advanced MS

• Drug May Curb 'Sluggish' Thinking in Some Adults With ADHD

• Drug Might Stop Heart Trouble Linked to Sickle Cell Anemia

• Drug Saxenda Aids Weight Loss — But You Should Exercise, Too

• Drug Shows Promise Against Rare Condition That Stunts Kids' Growth

• Drugged Driving a Growing Threat on America's Roads

• During and After Surgery, Pot Users Need More Anesthesia, Painkillers: Study

• During Coronavirus Pandemic, Don't Ignore Symptoms of Heart Attack, Stroke

• During Droughts, Many Poor Americans Will Lack Clean Tap Water: Study

• During Lockdown, Go Online for Advice on Treating Bone, Joint Issues

• During Lockdowns, Women Took on Most of Burden of Child Care

• During Pandemic, Don't Let Up on Heart-Healthy Behaviors

• During Pandemic, Fewer Using Drug That Fights Opioid Overdose

• During Stress of Pandemic, Know Suicide's Warning Signs

• During the Pandemic, How Safe Is the Great American Summer Vacation?

• DVT Clots Strike Many Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: Study

• Dyeing Your Hair? Beware Chemical Burns

• Dying Young From Heart Disease: Where You Live in the U.S. Matters

• Dysphagia in Children
Dysphagia means trouble swallowing. This condition happens when food or liquids can’t pass easily from your child’s mouth, into the throat, down the esophagus, and into the stomach when swallowing.

• Flat Head Syndrome (Deformational Plagiocephaly)
Flat head syndrome (deformational plagiocephaly) is when a baby's head develops a lasting flat spot. The flat spot may be either on one side of the head or on the back of the head. This happens when a baby sleeps in the same position most of the time or because of problems with the neck muscles.

• Gastrointestinal Problems
If your baby seems fussy and you've fed and changed him, he may have an upset stomach or colic. But don't worry, there are lots of things you can do to make your little one more comfortable and keep both of you calm.

• General Principles of Discipline
Most children need to be given consistent, clear rules and expectations about behavior. Discipline needs to begin as soon as the child is mobile—pulling up and crawling.

• Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare disease that causes muscle inflammation and a skin rash.

• Medical Genetics: DNA Studies for Single Gene Defects
To look for single gene defects, healthcare providers look at the DNA to see if it has any errors in it. Errors are known as mutations.

• Medicine Rashes in Children
Medicine rashes are the body’s reaction to a certain medicine. The type of rash that occurs depends on the type of medicine that is causing it. Rashes can range from mild to severe.

• Teens and Diabetes Mellitus
Detailed information on special considerations for teens with diabetes.

• The Growing Child- Teenager (13 to 18 Years)
The teen years are a time of growth spurts, puberty changes, and emotional and social development. Here's what you need to know.

• The Growing Child: 1 to 3 Months
A helpful look at common developmental milestones in young babies.

• The Growing Child: 10 to 12 Months
Read on to learn about the common developmental milestones for babies ages 10 to 12 months.

• The Growing Child: 1-Year-Olds
Your child is a toddler now and very active! They can climb stairs while holding on and play with push and pull toys.

• The Growing Child: 2-Year-Olds
Read on to learn details about common physical, speech, and other developmental milestones your child may reach at this age.

• The Growing Child: 3-Year-Olds
Most 3-year-olds have lost the rounded tummy of a toddler. Your child can use a spoon well and can wash and dry his or her hands.

• The Growing Child: 4 to 6 Months
This age is very social, and babies begin moving in much more purposeful ways.

• The Growing Child: 7 to 9 Months
Read on to learn about common physical, speech, and other developmental milestones to expect when your baby is this age.

• The Growing Child: Newborn
A helpful look at what to expect with your newborn—from your baby's growth and reflexes to crying and emotional development.

• The Growing Child: Preschool (4 to 5 Years)
Children at this age start to understand concepts and can compare abstract ideas. Read on to learn what to expect.

• The Growing Child: School-Age (6 to 12 Years)
Although friendships become more important at this age, children are still fond of their parents and like being part of a family. Read on to learn more.

• Treatment for Dog and Cat Bites and Scratches
When your child is bitten or scratched by an animal, remain calm and reassure your child that you can help. Here's what you need to know.

• Viruses, Bacteria, and Parasites in the Digestive Tract
Detailed information on viruses, bacteria, and parasites in the digestive tract.

• What You Can Do About Dog Bites
Dogs are responsible for 85% to 90% of all animal bites. But, many incidents can be avoided.