Tranquilizers and other depressants (dih-PRESS-entz) calm nerves and relax muscles. They are bright-colored capsules or tablets that are legally available through a doctor for medical reasons, but can ...

Amphetamines (am-FET-eh-meenz) are very addictive stimulants. They speed up functions in the brain and body. They come in pills or tablets. Prescription diet pills also fall into this category of ...

A gastroenterologist (gas-troh-en-ter-OL-uh-jist) is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, and treats diseases and conditions that affect the mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and ...

How Can Infections Be Prevented When My Child Has Surgery? Learn how to prevent surgical site infections both before and after your child's surgery.

Normally, RBCs have a round, doughnut shape and move easily through small blood vessels. Sickle cell disease causes RBCs to form in the elongated shape of a sickle, or the shape of the letter "C." ...

Anorexia (also called anorexia nervosa) is an eating disorder that makes people extremely afraid of gaining weight and gives them a distorted view of their body shape and size. They restrict how much ...

What Are E. Coli Infections? E. coli is a type of bacteria that normally lives in the intestines, where it helps the body break down and digest food. Some types (or strains) of E. coli, though, are ...

Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities. People with autism, also called autism spectrum disorder(ASD), have differences in the way their brains develop and process information. As ...

Vaginitis is inflammation (redness, soreness, or swelling) in and around the vagina. The vulva (the area around the opening of the vagina) also might be irritated, in which case it is called ...

Every cell in the body has a system that controls how it grows, how it interacts with other cells, and how long it lives. Sometimes, cells lose that control and grow in a way that the body can no ...

What Does the Heart & Circulatory System Do? If you've ever wondered how your heart works, this movie has the answer. And special thanks to the Fred J. Brotherton Charitable Foundation for supporting ...

Pityriasis versicolor is a fungal skin infection caused by a type of yeast. It's a common cause of skin rash in teens and young adults. It causes lots of round and oval-shaped patches on the skin, ...