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Articles In This Section

• Word! Autism

  Autism is a brain problem that makes it hard for kids to understand the world around them.

• Word! Appendix

  The appendix is a small sac attached to the large intestine.

• Word! Appendicitis

  Appendicitis happens when a part of the digestive system called the appendix gets inflamed or swells up.

• Word! Adenovirus

  An adenovirus is a germ that can cause a sore throat, cough, or runny nose.

• Word! Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries

  Anterior cruciate ligament injuries damage a strong band of tissue that helps keep the knee stable.

• Word! Anorexia Nervosa

  Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that makes people very afraid of gaining weight.

• Word! Alzheimer’s Disease

  Alzheimer's disease is a condition that can make older adults have trouble remembering things.

• Word! AIDS

  AIDS is a disease caused by a virus that weakens the body's immune system.

• Word! Abscess

  An abscess is a collection of pus that happens sometimes when the body is fighting an infection.

• Word! Autoimmunity

  Your immune system fights infections and illnesses. But sometimes the immune system makes a mistake and attacks part of the body. This is called autoimmunity.

• Word! Animal Dander

  All warm-blooded animals shed tiny flakes from their skin, fur, or feathers. This is called dander.

• Word! Asthma Action Plan

  Lots of stuff goes more smoothly when you have a plan - and that includes dealing with asthma.

• Word! Asthma Flare-Up

  When a person has a lot of trouble with wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath, it's called an asthma flare-up, or attack.

• Word! Allergy-Triggered Asthma

  Most kids who have asthma also have some kind of allergy, too.

• Word! Allergen

  An allergen is a medical word for anything that causes an allergic reaction.

• Word! Airway Obstruction

  When something keeps the air from moving in and out of the airways in your lungs, it's called an airway obstruction.

• Word! Airways

  The airways in your lungs are like tubes or straws.

• Word! Anemia

  People who have anemia have fewer red blood cells than normal, which can make them feel tired because not enough oxygen is getting to their bodies' cells.

• Word! Astringents

  If your skin is oilier than normal, you might want to use an astringent.

• Word! Astigmatism

  If you take a good look at your eye, you might barely see your cornea, the clear outer covering of the eye.

• Word! Asthma

  Someone with asthma can have trouble breathing because of problems with the airways, the tubes that carry air into the lungs.

• Word! Arthritis

  This is what happens when joints - the places where bones meet - get painful, swollen, and stiff.

• Word! Arteries and Veins

  Your body has a highway system all its own that sends blood to and from your body parts.

• Word! Anus

  The anus is the opening where your bowel movements (also known as poop) come out.

• Word! Antihistamines

  Antihistamines are medicines that block allergy symptoms.

• Word! Antibiotics

  These awesome medicines attack bacteria that make you sick.

• Word! Anesthesia

  Anesthesia is medicine that doctors give to make people feel comfortable when they're having surgery, stitches, or other things that might be painful.

• Word! Amputate

  To amputate something is to cut it off.

• Word! Allergy Shots and Immunotherapy

  Imagine if you were always sneezing because you were allergic to something.

• Word! Allergy

  Achoo! Many things can trigger allergies, like pollen, certain animals, foods, or a bee sting.

• Word! Allergist

  Allergists are special doctors who help people who are allergic to things like animals, grass, pollen, dust, and even foods.

• Word! Alignment

  Alignment means to bring into line.

• Word! Alcoholism

  Alcoholism means that someone frequently drinks too much alcohol (such as beer, wine, or liquor) and can't stop.

• Word! Aerobic Activity

  Get ready for a workout!

• Word! Addiction

  An addiction is an urge to do something that is hard to control or stop.

• Word! Acne

  Acne is the name for those red bumps called pimples that a lot of kids and teens get on their skin.

• Word! Abrasion

  Ever get an abrasion from falling off a bike or a swing?

• Word! Abdominals

  Sometimes called abs, these are the muscles in front of your abdomen, the area below your chest and above your belly button.

• Word! ADHD

  ADHD is short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.