Top Pediatric Diseases and Treatments – More Dangerous than You Think

Pediatric diseases are a major health concern.

They are more dangerous than you think.

In this article, we take a look at the top pediatric diseases and treatments in the US.

Seizures:

A seizure is an uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain that causes changes in behavior, sensation, awareness, and muscle activity.

Asthma:

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways in your lungs making it difficult to breathe.

Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1):

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is an autoimmune disorder that affects how your body produces insulin which regulates blood sugar levels.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopment disorder that affects a person’s social interaction and communication. ASD can range from mild to severe and some of the challenges can include difficulty with communication, difficulties in social interactions, different interests and routines, and repetitive behaviors.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the white blood cells.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. When the disease progresses, these blood-forming cells are no longer produced in sufficient quantities.

This can lead to anemia (low red blood cell count), infection (low white or platelet count), or bleeding (low platelet count).

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental disabilities that affect social interaction and communication skills.

The term autism spectrum disorder means different things to different people. It is a broad term for a range of conditions, including autism, Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

There are many misconceptions about autism spectrum disorders. One misconception is that all people with ASD have low intelligence or cannot care for themselves. In reality, individuals on the autism spectrum can be of any intelligence level and can learn to care for themselves. There are also many misconceptions about the causes of ASD like vaccines or food additives causing them.

Congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects are a group of conditions that affect the structure and function of the heart.

Heart defects are one of the most common types of birth defect, affecting about 1 in 100 newborns.

The most common type of congenital heart defect is a hole in the wall between two chambers (the atrial septum) or a hole in the wall between two chambers and an abnormal connection between them (the ventricular septum).

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus that clogs up the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections.

It is the most common life-shortening inherited disease in Canada, affecting one in 25 Canadians.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation funds research and supports people with CF and their families.

Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder is another of Top Pediatric Diseases that is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.

It is characterized by intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, and certain medical problems.

The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person.

In the past, it was common for people with Down Syndrome to be institutionalized or ostracized from society. However, in recent years there has been a push to integrate people with Down Syndrome into society and provide them with the same opportunities as everyone else. This has led to an increase in inclusion programs and advocacy groups for people with Down syndrome such as the Special Olympics.

Epilepsy or Seizure Disorder 

Epilepsy is a condition where a person has seizures.

A seizure is when the brain’s nerve cells become overexcited and send out signals that cause convulsions, uncontrolled shaking, and loss of consciousness.

Seizures are sometimes called fits or convulsions. They can be very frightening to witness, but they usually stop by themselves within seconds or minutes.

Some people have one seizure and never have another one again, while others have several seizures a day over many years before the condition starts to improve or even goes away completely.

There are different types of epilepsy: generalized epilepsy (also called grand mal), focal epilepsy (also called petit mal) and absence seizures (sometimes called petit mal).

Fragile X Syndrome or FMR1 Gene Mutation 

Fragile X Syndrome is a genetic disorder  is one of Top Pediatric Diseases that affects about 1 in 4,000 boys and about 1 in 8,000 girls.

The FMR1 gene mutation is a common cause of Fragile X Syndrome. It’s an inherited condition caused by a missing or changed portion of the FMR1 gene. The missing or changed portion of the gene results in less production of a protein called fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP).

When less FMRP is produced, it can lead to problems with brain development and function. These problems can affect how people think and feel, as well as how they behave.

Hemophilia A and Hemophilia B

People with hemophilia A or hemophilia B have a genetic mutation that causes the blood to clot less than normal. This can lead to excessive bleeding, especially into the joints and muscles.

A) What are hemophilia A and B?

Hemophilia A and B are inherited X-linked recessive disorders that cause bleeding disorders. These inherited disorders occur when a person inherits one mutated copy of the gene that codes for blood clotting factor VIII (hemophilia A) or blood clotting factor IX (hemophilia B).

B) How do people get hemophilia?

Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that causes blood to clot more slowly than the average person. This means that if you have hemophilia and were to get into a fight and get punched in the face, it might take 2 hours for your blood to stop flowing out of your nose.

C) What are the symptoms of hemophilia?

Hemophilia is a rare blood disorder in which the body is missing an essential clotting factor. People with hemophilia may bleed excessively after an injury or have spontaneous nosebleeds. The severity of the disorder ranges from mild to life-threatening.

D) How is hemophilia treated in the USA?

Treatment of hemophilia varies depending on severity. For patients with mild hemophilia, the treatment is usually just preventative, consisting of replacement therapy with a clotting factor. For patients with moderate or severe hemophilia, there are a number of therapeutic options to treat and control bleeding episodes. The most common treatments are intravenous infusions of clotting factors as well as frequent blood transfusions.

E) What are the complications of hemophilia?

Hemophilia is an inherited disorder in which the person’s blood does not clot normally. If untreated, small cuts or injuries may take a long time to heal. This disorder can lead to excessive bleeding as well as blood clots in the veins, arteries, joints, and organs.