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Health Library A to Z

F

  • Blood Circulation in the Fetus and Newborn
  • During pregnancy, the fetal lungs are not used for breathing - the placenta does the work of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide through the mother's circulation. With the first breaths of air the baby takes at birth, the fetal circulation changes.

  • Cuts and Wounds of the Face
  • Most minor cuts or wounds to the face can be handled at home with simple first aid treatment. But there are also times when these injuries need medical care. Here's what you need to know.

  • Facts About Poisons
  • Medicines are the leading cause of poisoning in children. Poisoning by makeup and personal care products is the next most common cause.

  • Falls
  • Detailed information on falls and preventing injuries and death in children

  • Femoral Anteversion in Children
  • Femoral anteversion is an inward twisting of the thighbone (femur). This health problem causes a child's knees and feet to turn inward. The child may have a pigeon-toed appearance.

  • Fever in Children
  • Read on to learn all about fever and children--from symptoms and treatment to how to take your child's temperature.

  • Fibromyalgia in Children
  • Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in muscles and soft tissues all over the body. It is an ongoing (chronic) condition. It can affect the neck, shoulders, back, chest, hips, buttocks, arms, and legs.

  • Fifth Disease in Children
  • Fifth disease is a viral illness that causes a rash. It occurs most often in the winter and spring.

  • Fire Safety and Burns
  • Detailed information on fire safety and burns and preventing injuries and death in children

  • Firearms
  • Detailed information on firearm safety and preventing injuries and death in children

  • First Aid for Poisonings in a Child
  • Sometimes accidental poisonings can be treated in the home under the direction of a poison control center or your child's healthcare provider. At other times, emergency medical care is necessary.

  • First-Degree Burn in Children
  • A burn is damage to tissues of the body caused by contact with things such as heat, radiation, or chemicals. A first-degree burn affects only the outer layer of skin (epidermis).

  • 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.

  • Flossing and Children
  • Flossing should be started when your child is about 2 to 3 years old, under the direction of your child's dentist. Read on for helpful tips, including step-by-step flossing directions.

  • Fluoride and Children
  • Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay, strengthens tooth enamel, and reduces the harmful effects of plaque.

  • Food Allergies in Children
  • A food allergy is when your child’s body has a bad immune reaction to a certain food. This is different than a food intolerance which does not affect the immune system. This is true even though some of the same signs may be present.

  • Foreign Bodies in the Ear, Nose, and Airway
  • Children usually place things in their ears because they are bored, curious, or copying other children. Some objects may cause no symptoms, but other objects, such as food and insects, may cause pain in the ear, redness, or drainage.

  • Foreign Bodies in the Eye in Children
  • A foreign body in your child’s eye is any object that isn’t supposed to be there. The foreign object may be in the conjunctiva. This is a thin membrane that covers the white of the eye. Or it may be in the cornea. This is the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the colored part of the eye and the pupil.

  • Fractures in Children
  • A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. When a fracture happens, it is classified as either open or closed.

  • Fractures of the Orbit in Children
  • An orbital fracture happens when one or more bones around one of your child's eyes is broken. The orbit is the bony structure around the eye.

  • Frostbite and Frostnip in Children
  • Frostbite is damage to parts of the body from freezing. It occurs when ice crystals form in the skin or in deeper tissue. Frostnip is a mild form of frostbite. It does not cause permanent tissue damage.

  • Fungal Infections
  • Detailed information on fungal skin infections, including Candidiasis, Tinea Infections, and Tinea Versicolor

  • Herpes Simplex Virus (Cold Sores) in Children
  • Cold sores are small blisters around the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once a child is infected with the virus, the virus becomes inactive (dormant) for long periods of time. It can then become active at any time and cause cold sores.

  • Hydrops Fetalis
  • Hydrops fetalis is severe swelling (edema) in an unborn baby or a newborn baby. It is a life-threatening problem.

  • Infant Feeding Guide
  • How much, what, and when to feed your baby can seem daunting. But this cheat sheet will give you the information you need to start your baby on the right nutritional path.

  • Infant Nutrition
  • Choosing how to feed your baby is an important decision that has life-long effects for your baby and for you.

  • Nutrition and Fluids in the NICU
  • When your baby is in the NICU, your main concern is getting them healthy and home. That means feeding your baby and having them gain weight. But feeding babies in the NICU is quite different from feeding healthy babies. Here's what you need to know.

  • Rheumatic Fever
  • Rheumatic fever is a complex disease that affects the joints, skin, heart, blood vessels, and brain. It occurs mainly in children between the ages of 5 to 15.

  • Splinters
  • A splinter is a sharp sliver of wood, glass, or other debris that is lodged underneath the skin. Removal of small, superficial splinters can usually be done at home. Read on to learn how.

  • Syncope in Children
  • Syncope is a brief loss of consciousness and muscle tone caused when not enough blood gets to the brain. Syncope is commonly called fainting. In most children, it’s usually harmless. But in a few children, syncope is serious. This is usually because of a heart problem, or less often a neurological problem.

  • Tilt Table Test for Children
  • The tilt table test is done to find the cause of fainting (syncope). Tilt table testing is done with a special table or bed that changes a child's position from lying to standing. Their blood pressure and heart rate are checked while they're in the different positions.