What's the Endocrine System? The endocrine system is made up of glands that make hormones. Hormones are the body's chemical messengers. They carry information and instructions from one set of cells to ...

Coughing is a healthy reflex that helps clear the airways. A severe cough or one that lasts more than a week requires a medical checkup. But many coughs are caused by a virus that just needs to run ...

Allergic reactions can be triggered by foods, medicines, pets, insect stings, pollen, and other things. Most allergic reactions aren't serious. But severe reactions can be life-threatening and need ...

What Is the Digestive System? The digestive system breaks down the food we eat into tiny parts to give us fuel and the nutrients we need to live. As food breaks down, we get amino acids from protein, ...

What to Expect During This Visit Your doctor and/or nurse will probably: 1. Check your baby's weight, length, and head circumference and plot the measurements on a growth chart. 2. Ask questions, ...

What Is a Blood Test? By taking and testing a small sample of a person’s blood, doctors can check for many kinds of diseases and conditions. Blood tests help doctors check how the body’s organs are ...

What Is the Flu? The flu is an infection of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs). It's caused by a virus that spreads easily from person to person. Flu viruses usually cause the most ...

When your child has diabetes, there’s a lot to talk about — especially at first. All Feelings Are OK It’s normal for someone who learns they have diabetes to have lots of different feelings. Some kids ...

What Is Cancer? Cancer happens when cells divide and multiply much faster than most normal cells. Uncontrolled cell growth can lead to masses of cancer cells called tumors, or to a situation where ...

If your daughter is pregnant and planning to have the baby, many changes await your family. And though it's certainly not what most parents expect, it happens every day: nearly 250,000 teenage girls ...

Playing sports is a great way to have fun and stay fit. If you play sports, you may need to get a sports physical. A sports physical is a visit to the doctor to make sure it’s safe to play the sport ...

This schedule of recommended vaccines may vary depending upon where you live, your child's health, the type of vaccine, and the vaccines available. Some vaccines might be given as part of a ...