Health Library A to Z

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• Anencephaly in Children
Anencephaly is a birth defect that affects the brain and skull bones. With this condition, the brain isn't fully formed. It often lacks part or all of the cerebrum.

• Birth Defects in Newborn Babies
Birth defects may be caused by inherited (genetic) problems or by environmental things such as exposure to certain toxic substances during pregnancy. Some birth defects can be linked to a direct cause. Other reasons are not as clear.

• Care of the Baby 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.

• Cuts and Wounds of the Nose
Most minor nose wounds can be handled at home, but a wound or bruise that also involves one or both eyes needs immediate medical attention.

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in Newborns
CMV (cytomegalovirus) is a herpes virus. It is very common. It affects people of all ages and in all parts of the U.S. In most cases CMV causes mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all. But it can cause serious problems in an unborn baby or newborn.

• Equipment That Is Used in the NICU
NICUs are equipped with complex machines and devices to monitor nearly every system of a baby's body--temperature, heart rate, breathing, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, and blood pressure.

• Eye Medicine and Vitamin K Injection for Newborns
Newborn babies routinely receive eye medicine and vitamin K injections soon after birth. Both prevent serious conditions.

• Fever in a Newborn Baby
The system that controls body temperature is not well developed in a newborn. Here's what you need to know about fever and your baby.

• 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.

• Hearing Screening Tests for Newborns
Today nearly all newborns are screened for hearing loss. Here's a look at why, and the types of screening tests that are done.

• Keeping Your Baby Warm
Premature and low-birth-weight babies may be too immature to regulate their own temperature, even in a warm environment. Read on to learn how to safely keep them warm.

• Narcissists Are Blind to Their Own Mistakes

• Narcissist's 'Thin Skin' Can Easily Lead to Aggression

• Narcolepsy Drug Doesn't Raise Odds for Birth Defects: Study

• Narrow Hallways Ideal for Coronavirus Spread: Study

• Nasal Spray COVID Vaccine Shows Promise in Animal Trials

• Natal Teeth
Natal teeth are teeth that are present when a baby is born. The teeth are often not fully developed and may have a weak root.

• Navy Ship Outbreak Shows Most Young Aren't Spared COVID Symptoms

• NBA Players to Assess New Coronavirus Test

• NBA Study Shows Post-COVID Viral Transmission Rare, Even With Positive Test

• Neanderthal Poop Provides Clues to  Modern Humans' 'Microbiome'

• Nearly 130,000 U.S. Lives Saved by March if Everyone Wore Masks: Study

• Nearly 8 in 10 School, Child Care Staff Have Gotten at Least 1 Dose of COVID Vaccine: CDC

• Nearly a Third of Young Black Americans Have High Blood Pressure

• Nearly All Americans Who Got First COVID Shot Are Are Getting Their Second

• Nearly All Seniors Take Meds That Raise Their Odds of Falling

• Nearly Half of Americans Want COVID Vaccine ASAP, Numbers Rising Since December: Poll

• Nearly Half of Coronavirus Infections May Be Asymptomatic

• Nearly Half of Teens Get Behind the Wheel Shortly After a Concussion

• Nearly Half of U.S. Veterans Cited 'Personal Growth' During Pandemic: Survey

• Neck Masses
Detailed information on the different types of neck masses in children

• Necklace Spots A-Fib in Just Over 30 Seconds

• Necrotizing Enterocolitis in the Newborn
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious illness in newborns. It happens when tissue in the large intestine (colon) gets inflamed. This inflammation damages and sometimes kills the tissue in your baby’s colon.

• Need an IV or Stitches? Virtual Reality or Hypnosis Might Ease Pain

• Need an Operation? Here's How COVID Has Changed Surgery

• Need Better Sleep? Get a Partner

• Need to Pee? Scientists May Have Found the Gene for That

• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Neonatal abstinence syndrome is what happens when babies are exposed to drugs in the uterus before birth. Babies can then go through drug withdrawal after birth.

• Nephrotic Syndrome in Children
Nephrotic syndrome is a problem where too much protein called albumin is released from the body into the urine. It means that one or both kidneys are damaged.

• Nerve Drug Might Curb Spinal Cord Damage, Mouse Study Suggests

• Nerves May Play Important Role in Autism

• Nervous About Returning to Work? Take Precautions Against Coronavirus

• Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a cancerous tumor. It grows in nerve tissue of babies and young children. The cancer cells grow in young nerve cells of a baby growing in the womb. These cells are called neuroblasts. It’s is the most common cancer in babies under age 1. It’s rare in children older than age 10.

• Neurocutaneous Syndromes in Children
Neurocutaneous syndromes are disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, organs, skin, and bones. The diseases are lifelong conditions that can cause tumors to grow in these areas. They can also cause other problems such as hearing loss, seizures, and developmental problems.

• Neurogenic Bladder in Children
Neurogenic bladder means the bladder doesn't work normally because of nerve damage. It causes a child to have problems with holding or releasing urine.

• Neurological Conditions and Pregnancy
Detailed information on neurologic conditions in pregnancy

• Neurological Disorders in the Newborn
Detailed information on the most common neurological disorders in the newborn

• Neurological Exam for Children
Is it time for your baby to have a full physical exam? Your pediatrician might want to conduct a "neuro exam." Don't worry, this series of tests designed to evaluate your child's nervous system is painless. Here's what it entails.

• Neuromuscular Disorders
Detailed information on the most common neuromuscular disorders in children

• New Advice for Blood Pressure That's a Bit Too High

• New Approach Allows Safe Transplant of Kidneys Tainted by Hepatitis C

• New Blood Test May Improve Liver Cancer Screening

• New Clues to How Cancers Originate in the Brain

• New Coronavirus Can Also Infect Cells in the Mouth

• New Coronavirus Can Infect Your Eyes as Well as Your Lungs

• New Coronavirus Strain More Contagious, Scientists Say

• New Coronavirus Variant Out of Brazil Now in 5 U.S. States

• New COVID Cases Double in U.S. in Past Three Weeks

• New COVID-19 Tracking App May Find 'Hotspots' Across America

• New Dietary Guidelines for Americans Ignore Recommendations on Sugar, Alcohol

• New Drug Combo Could Be Advance Against Uterine Fibroids

• New Drug Could Extend Life for People With ALS

• New Drug May Be Better Psoriasis Treatment

• New Drug May Beat Older One at Preventing MS Relapse

• New Drug Shows Real Promise Against Celiac Disease

• New First Look at the Tiniest Babies' Lungs

• New Genetic Insights Into Cause of ALS

• New Guidelines Say No to Probiotics for Digestive Woes

• New Hope Against a Rare but Incurable Eye Cancer

• New Hope Against Diseases Marked by Progressive Scarring of Lung Tissue

• New Insights Into How COVID-19 Damages the Brain

• New Insights Into How Eating Disorders Alter the Brain

• New Leash on Life: How Dog-Walking Is Helping Veterans Battered by PTSD

• New Links Between Poor Sleep, Diabetes and Death

• New Polio Vaccine Promising in Early Test

• New Study Examines Sexuality of People With Autism

• New Study Sheds Doubt on Notion Kids Aren't COVID-19 Spreaders

• New Thyroid Eye Disease Treatment Could Harm Hearing

• New Treatment Fights Rare Cases of Vaccine-Linked Blood Clots

• New U.S. Coronavirus Cases Hit Another High

• New Variants Mean COVID Vaccines, Tests May Need Tweaking: FDA

• New Weight-Loss Program Shows Promise Among Low-Income Americans

• New Year, New Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe and Healthy

• Newbies More Apt to Have Bad Reaction to Marijuana: Study

• Newborn Complications
Detailed information on the most common types of newborn complications

• Newborn Health Assessment
Detailed information on newborn health assessments

• Newborn May Have Contracted Coronavirus in the Womb: Report

• Newborn Measurements
Your newborn will be weighed in the hospital and at all check-ups. In most cases, metric units are used to record babies' weight. This chart will help you convert the metric unit grams (g) to pounds (lb) and ounces (oz).

• Newborn Multiples
Because many multiples are small and born early, they may be initially cared for in a special care nursery called the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

• Newborn Screening Tests
A national program exists to screen all newborns for certain disorders in the first few days of life.

• Newborn Warning Signs
Most newborns adjust well to the outside world. But it's helpful to know about these warning signs that could indicate a possible problem.

• Newborns of Moms With COVID-19 Face Little Infection Risk: Study

• Newborns With COVID-19 May Suffer Only Mild Symptoms, Study Says

• Newborns Won't Get COVID Through Infected Mom's Breast Milk: Study

• Newer Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug May Help Ease Tough-to-Treat Cases

• Newly Approved Drug Fights Lung Cancer Tied to Certain Genes

• Nightmares and Night Terrors
A night terror is a partial waking from sleep with behaviors such as screaming, kicking, panic, sleep walking, thrashing, or mumbling.

• NIH Halts Trial of Convalescent Plasma for Mild COVID-19

• NIH Launches $500 Million Contest to Produce Best COVID-19 Test

• NIH Starts Trial Looking at Rare Allergic Reactions to COVID Vaccines

• Nitrogen Dioxide, a Car Exhaust Pollutant, Is Raising Death Rates: Study

• No Drop in Teens' Use of Pot, Binge Drinking Despite Pandemic Lockdowns

• No Evidence Coronavirus Spreads Through Food or Food Packaging: FDA

• No Evidence Marijuana Raises Stroke Risk

• No Evidence Muscle Relaxants Can Ease Low Back Pain

• No Genetic Damage to Kids of Those Exposed to Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster: Study

• No Good Evidence on Accuracy of Coronavirus Antibody Tests: Study

• No Good Evidence Weight Loss Supplements Work: Study

• No Gym Required: How Seniors Can Exercise During Lockdown

• No Hams: Pigs Show Their Smarts in Complex Experiments

• No 'Last Goodbye' for Cello: 5-Hour Surgery Saved Dog's Life

• No Link Found Between Blood Pressure Meds and Cancer: Study

• No Link Seen Between COVID, Guillain-Barré Syndrome

• No Rise in Global Suicide Rate in First Months of Pandemic

• No Sense of Smell After COVID? Therapies Can Help Bring It Back

• No Sign Prior COVID Infection Affects a Woman's Fertility: Study

• No Spectators to Be Allowed at Tokyo Olympic Games

• No, Your Dog Doesn't Really Prefer Your Face, Brain Scans Show

• Noninfectious Skin Conditions
Detailed information on non-infectious skin conditions, including dermatitis, acne, drug rashes, poison ivy/poison oak, and toxic epidermal necrolysis

• Nontraditional Inheritance
Detailed information on nontraditional inheritance, including uniparental disomy and Prader-Willi Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome, trinucleotide repeats and Fragile-X Syndrome, and mitochondrial inheritance and Leber's Optic Atrophy

• Normal Conversation Spreads Virus-Laden Droplets Beyond 6 Feet

• Normal Growth
A child's growth not only involves the length and weight of his or her body, but also internal growth and development.

• Normal Newborn Behaviors and Activities
Detailed information on normal newborn behaviors and activities

• Nose and Throat Disorders
Detailed information on nose and throat disorders in children

• Nosebleed (Epistaxis) in Children
A nosebleed is bleeding from tissues inside the nose (nasal mucus membranes) caused by a broken blood vessel. Most nosebleeds in children occur in the front part of the nose close to the nostrils.

• Not Just Keyboards: Many Types of Workers Can Develop Carpal Tunnel

• Not Just Kids: Peanut Allergy Affects Many Adults

• Not So Sudden: Many Seek Medical Help 2 Weeks Before Cardiac Arrest

• Not the Flu: COVID Death Risk Is 3.5 Times That of Influenza

• Nothing to Sniff at: Depression Common for People With COVID-Linked Smell Loss

• Not-So-Happy-Birthdays: Parties Helped Spread COVID, Study Finds

• Now That Psychiatric Care Has Gone Online, Many Patients Want It to Stay There

• Number of Americans Willing to Get COVID-19 Vaccine Continues to Rise

• Number of U.S. Kids Hospitalized With COVID Is Likely Overcounted: Study

• Numbers of Non-COVID-19 Deaths Up During Pandemic

• Nurse Practitioners Key to Opioid Treatment in Rural U.S.: Study

• Nursemaid’s Elbow in Children
Nursemaid's elbow is a type of elbow injury. It's when a forearm bone (radius) slips out of place from where it normally attaches to the elbow joint.

• Nurses Are Dying From Suicide at Higher Rates

• Nurses Can Make the Difference for New Moms' Breastfeeding

• Nursing Homes a Hotspot for COVID-19 Deaths

• Nutrition and Burns
A child who has been burned needs additional calories and protein to help them heal and grow.

• Nutrition and Nephrotic Syndrome
Here is information on nutrition and diet for children with nephrotic syndrome.

• Nutrition and Renal Failure
Detailed information on nutrition and renal failure in children

• Nutrition Index
Detailed nutrition information for mothers who are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, and toddlers, preschool-aged children, school-aged children, and adolescents

• Nutritional Requirements for a Child With Cancer
Good nutrition is vital for children being treated for cancer, yet these young patients often have poor appetites.

• NYC Shoppers Prefer Stores That Enforce Social Distancing, Study Finds

• Overview of Diagnostic Tests for Nervous System Disorders in Children
Evaluating and diagnosing damage to the nervous system can be complicated. Many of the same symptoms occur in different combinations among the different disorders, and many disorders do not have definitive causes, markers, or tests.

• Parenting in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
In most cases, you can be with your baby in the NICU at any time. Read on to learn what you can expect.

• Physical Exam of the Newborn
A complete physical exam is an important part of newborn care. Each body system is carefully checked for signs of health and normal function.

• Preparing the Family
Most families soon find ways to adjust to the changes that take place after a baby is born. But it is helpful to prepare some family members for what is ahead.

• Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome
While being a new mom brings lots of joy, it also brings stress--something a crying baby can make worse. Having a better understanding of why your baby cries can help you deal with this stress in a healthy way and help you avoid the most common form of child abuse: Shaken baby syndrome.

• School-Aged Child Nutrition
Eating healthy after-school snacks is important at this age, as these snacks may contribute up to one-third of the total calorie intake for the day.

• Sodium and Fluid Restriction for Children with Kidney Failure
Detailed information on controlling sodium in your child's diet.

• Tests for a Newborn Baby in Intensive Care
Babies in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) undergo regular testing so they get the important care they need. Here are several common lab tests. Ask your baby's healthcare provider about them.

• Toddler Nutrition
Mealtime with a toddler can be challenging, because children at this age are striving for independence and control. It's best to provide structure and set limits.

• Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn
Transient tachypnea of the newborn is a mild breathing problem. It affects babies during the first hours of life. Transient means it is short-lived. Tachypnea means fast breathing rate. The problem often goes away on its own in about 3 days.

• U.S. Rollout of Pfizer COVID Vaccine Begins

• Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in the Newborn
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding is a problem that occurs in some newborns. It happens during the first few days of life. This condition used to be called hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.