Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in kids. By age 5, about 8% of girls and 1%-2% of boys have had at least one UTI. They occur when the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra become infected. Symptoms of a UTI can include: pain when urinatingchanges in frequency, appearance, or smell of urinefeverchillsloss of appetitenauseavomitinglower abdominal painlower back pain or discomfort UTIs can also cause bedwetting in kids who were previo

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Rabies

Rabies infections in people are rare in the United States. However, worldwide about 50,000 people die from rabies each year, mostly in developing countries where programs for vaccinating dogs against rabies don't exist. But the good news is that problems can be prevented if the exposed person receives treatment before symptoms of the infection develop. Rabies is a virus that in the U.S. is usually transmitted by a bite from a wild infected anim

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Poliomyelitis

Polio (also called poliomyelitis) is a contagious, historically devastating disease that was virtually eliminated from the Western hemisphere in the second half of the 20th century. Although polio has plagued humans since ancient times, its most extensive outbreak occurred in the first half of the 1900s before the vaccination, created by Jonas Salk, became widely available in 1955. At the height of the polio epidemic in 1952, nearly 60,000 case

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Pinkeye

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. While pinkeye can sometimes be alarming because it may make the eyes extremely red and can spread rapidly, it's a fairly common condition and usually causes no long-term eye or vision damage. But if your child shows symptoms of pinkeye, it's important to see a doctor. So

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Mumps

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that usually spreads through saliva and can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands. These glands, which produce saliva for the mouth, are found toward the back of each cheek, in the area between the ear and jaw. In cases of mumps, these glands typically swell and become painful. The disease has been recognized for several centuries, and medical historians argue over whether the

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Mononucleosis

Mononucleosis — or "mono" — is an infection that produces flu-like symptoms, and usually goes away on its own in a few weeks with the help of plenty of fluids and rest. Mono is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a very common virus that most kids are exposed to at some point while growing up. Infants and young kids infected with EBV usually have very mild symptoms or none at all. But teens and young adults who become infected often

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