Health Issues Glossary
A
Abrasion (Say: uh-BRAY-zhun): Ever get an abrasion from falling off a bike or a swing? An abrasion is the fancy word for when the top layers of skin get rubbed away, leaving a scrape or scratch.
Abscess (Say: AB-sess): An abscess is a collection of pus. Abscesses can happen when your body is fighting germs that cause an infection. White blood cells gather in the place where the germs are and make pus. An abscess can cause swelling and hurt. You can get an abscess inside your body, in a tooth, or in your skin.
AIDS: The letters in AIDS stand for:
- acquired
- immunodeficiency (say: im-yuh-noh-di-FISH-un-see)
- syndrome
AIDS is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus weakens the immune system by killing a kind of white blood cell needed to fight infections. A person who has been infected with the HIV virus may not get AIDS for a long time.
Alzheimer's Disease (Say: ALTS-hy-merz, also sometimes ALS-hy-merz or OLS-hy-merz DISS-eeze): Have you ever forgotten to do your homework? Everyone has trouble with their memory sometimes. But some older adults have a condition called Alzheimer's disease, which makes them they always have trouble remembering. They start out with trouble remembering small things, but over time they forget important stuff like names and faces of the people they love or even their own names.
Anemia (Say: uh-NEE-mee-uh): Red blood cells carry oxygen all through our bodies. People who have anemia have fewer red blood cells than normal, which can make them feel tired because not enough oxygen gets to their bodies' cells. Many things can cause anemia, but a common way kids might get it is by not getting enough iron, a nutrient found in meat, dried beans, and green leafy vegetables. Red blood cells need iron to work well.
Anorexia Nervosa (Say: an-uh-REK-see-uh nur-VOH-suh): We all need to eat to live. But some people worry so much about getting fat that they develop an eating disorder like anorexia. People with anorexia become very afraid of gaining weight. They may go on extreme diets or exercise all the time. People with anorexia often skip meals, become obsessed with calories, and lose lots of weight.
Appendicitis (Say: uh-pen-di-SYE-tis): If a person's appendix gets inflamed (swells up), it's called appendicitis. Sometimes this happens after there is an infection in the intestine. Other times, something causes a blockage in the appendix. And sometimes there isn't a clear reason why it happens. If someone has appendicitis, the appendix will need to be taken out during an operation called an appendectomy.
Autism (Say: AW-tiz-um): Autism is a difference in the way a kid's brain develops. Kids with autism may have trouble understanding the world around them. They also might move in an unusual way (like flapping their hands) or do the same thing over and over (like saying the same word). A kid with autism may have a little trouble with these things, or a lot. Some kids need only a little bit of help, and others might need a lot of help with learning and doing everyday stuff.
B
Bacteria (Say: bak-TEER-ee-uh): Bacteria are a kind of germ. They're so tiny that you can't see them with just your eyes, but there are thousands, millions, even billions of them all over you, inside and out! This might sound kind of gross, but lots of bacteria actually help our bodies. The good bacteria are good for us, and the bad bacteria can make us sick. They may be to blame for your next sore throat or ear infection!
Bone Marrow (Say: MAIR-oh): Bone marrow is a thick, spongy kind of jelly inside your bones. Bone marrow makes all kinds of blood cells: red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infections, and platelets that help blood clot.
C
Chronic (Say: KRAH-nik): This word describes something that continues or is long-lasting. A chronic illness is one that a person has for a long time or that goes away, but keeps coming back. Diabetes and arthritis are examples of chronic illnesses.
Contagious (Say: kon-TAY-jus): There's a good reason your parents tell you to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough! When an illness is contagious, it means you can catch it from another person. Contagious sicknesses include colds and the flu. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough (with a tissue or your elbow), and you'll help prevent bacteria and viruses from getting in the air. It's also important to wash your hands, whether you are sick or well, to prevent the spread of germs on things that other people might touch.
Contusion (Say: kun-TOO-zhun): This is another word for a bruise.
Coxsackievirus (Say: kok-SAK-ee-vy-rus): This is one of a group of viruses or germs that live in your digestive tract and can make you sick. Kids with coxsackievirus may have a fever, stomachache, runny nose, or sore throat. It can cause a rash and sores in the mouth. It's easy to pass this kind of virus around by sneezing or coughing on your hands. Washing your hands a lot is the best way to keep from getting coxsackievirus.
D
Dehydration (Say: dee-hy-DRAY-shun): Don't sweat this long word! Dehydration is what happens when there's not enough water in the body. Be sure to drink a lot of water to stay happily hydrated.
Depression (Say: dih-PREH-shun): It's normal to feel sad sometimes. But when someone feels that way for a long time and rarely feels happy, it's called depression. Sometimes, it's hard to figure out what's causing a person's depression. One thing's for sure, though: If you feel depressed or if you think someone else is depressed, talk to a trusted grown-up about it.
Down Syndrome: This happens when a baby is born with an extra chromosome. This extra genetic material causes problems with the way the baby's body and brain develops. People with Down syndrome have certain physical features, such as a flatter face and upward slanting eyes, and may have health problems, such as heart defects. Kids with Down syndrome usually have trouble learning, but they can go to regular schools and get jobs when they are older.
Dyslexia (Say: dis-LEK-see-uh): Dyslexia is the name of a learning problem some kids have with reading and writing. It can make words look jumbled and make it hard to read and remember what was read.
E
Edema (Say: eh-DEE-mah): Edema is swelling that happens when too much fluid builds up in the tissues of the body. (Not the tissues you blow your nose in! We mean the stuff your body's made up of.) This can happen anywhere, especially the hands, arms, feet, legs, or ankles. Lots of things can cause edema, like insect stings, sunburn, and some diseases.
F
Fever: You've probably noticed that sometimes when you're sick, you feel really hot one minute and then freezing cold the next. And to make things weirder, grown-ups keep touching your face and forehead all the time. When this happens, chances are you have a fever.
Foreign Body (Say: FOR-in [or FAR-in] BAH-dee): A foreign body is anything that gets into your body that doesn't belong there, like a splinter. Little kids often put things like pebbles, beads, food, eraser tips, or toy parts in their ears or noses. You probably don't do stuff like that anymore, but maybe an insect has flown into your eye or nose. Often, our bodies can get a foreign body out on their own by blinking or sneezing. But when they can't, kids have to see a doctor for help.
Frostbite (Say: FROST-byte): Brrrrr ... pass the hat and mittens, please! Frostbite is what happens when skin is exposed to cold temperatures and freezes. This can damage the skin and parts of the body, such as fingers and toes. So bundle up!
G
Gait Abnormality (Say: GATE ab-nor-MAL-ih-tee): Your gait is the way you walk. An abnormality is something unusual. A gait abnormality is when a kid walks in an unusual way — for instance, with the toes of each foot turned in toward each other or with the toes turned out. These problems are not painful and usually get better on their own.
Gastroenteritis (Say: gass-troh-en-teh-RYE-tis): Feeling sick to your stomach? It may be gastroenteritis, sometimes called stomach flu. This illness can make you feel sick to your stomach, and make you throw up and have diarrhea.
H
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: The coxsackievirus (say: kok-SAK-ee-vy-rus) causes this infection. Kids who have it get blisters on their hands and feet, in their mouth and throat, and sometimes on their bottom. They also can have a fever. Hand, food, and mouth disease goes away on its own without any medicine.
Heat Exhaustion (Say: ig-ZOS-cheun): Super hot in summer? Then watch out for this — it's what happens when the body is not able to cool itself down. So don't get exhausted — drink plenty of water, get in the shade, or go inside and enjoy the air conditioning!
Hematoma (Say: hee-muh-TOH-muh): A hematoma is a kind of bruise that happens when an injury causes blood to collect and pool under the skin. The "hema" part of the word means blood, which you see under your skin if you get a bad bump — the blood vessels break, letting the blood leak out. But then your body goes to work to clean things up. Before you know it, the black and blue color has faded to green or yellow and then it's all gone.
Hemophilia (Say: hee-muh-FIL-ee-uh): When you cut your hand or scrape your knee, it usually will stop bleeding on its own. That's because blood is usually able to form clots that protect you from bleeding too much. But people with hemophilia have blood that doesn't clot the way it should. That means they bruise and bleed easily and they may bleed a lot or for a long time after an injury. Hemophilia is a genetic condition (meaning it runs in families).
Herpes Zoster (Say: HUR-pees ZAHS-tur): Also called shingles, this is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. If someone had chickenpox, the virus stays in their system for life. Anyone who's had chickenpox can get herpes zoster later (but this usually won't happen until someone is an older adult). Shingles causes a rash with blisters on the body that can be very painful. The blisters are contagious and can spread the chickenpox virus to people who never got chickenpox and didn't get the chickenpox vaccine.
Hypothermia (Say: hi-poh-THUR-mee-uh): If you've ever been outside on a freezing day without your coat, you know how quickly your body gets cold. Hypothermia is when the body gets so cold that it can't warm itself up again. This can be dangerous because the organs inside the body will stop working if they get too cold. So be sure to bundle up!
I
Infection (Say: in-FEK-shun): If germs get inside your body, they can multiply and cause an infection. Your body's immune system fights off the germs with special cells. It can become a full-on fight — and you won't feel better until your body wins! If your body has a little trouble fighting the infection by itself, your doctor may prescribe medicine like antibiotics to help. So get some rest and let your body do the work!
Influenza (Say: in-floo-EN-zah): Feeling suddenly feverish, achy, and crummy all over? Sounds like influenza is in your body — the full name for the flu! Influenza is a type of germ called a virus that can make you sick. You'll feel better if you rest, drink plenty of liquids, and ask your parents to give you acetaminophen or ibuprofen to make you feel more comfortable.
R
Rhinovirus (Say: ry-no-VY-rus): No, this isn't a rhinoceros with the sniffles. It's the name for a virus that causes the common cold in people. Ahhh ... choo!
Roseola (Say: RO-zee-oh-luh): This word looks like it might have to do with roses. But roseola (also called sixth disease) is a sickness that's caused by a virus. It usually affects babies and kids younger than 2 years old. Kids with roseola get a high fever for a couple of days to a week. When the fever goes away, they get a pinkish-red rash on their belly and chest that lasts from hours to a few days.
S
Scarlet Fever (Say: SKAR-lit FEE-vur): Scarlet fever is an infection that's caused by the same bacteria that cause strep throat. The bacteria sometimes make a poison that causes a rash. The red, bumpy rash spreads over most of the body and is what gives scarlet fever its name (scarlet means bright red). The rash usually looks a bad sunburn with tiny bumps, and it may itch. It usually starts to go away after about six days. It may peel for several weeks until the skin is healed. Kids with scarlet fever take antibiotics to feel better.
Symptoms (Say: SIMP-tums): When you're sick, you usually have symptoms — body changes like a fever that let you know something's not right. By telling a doctor your symptoms, you can help them figure out what's wrong. Think of symptoms as clues you need to solve a mystery. If you have enough of them, it can be easy to figure out what's going on! For example, if you have an achy ear and a fever, you might have an ear infection. And if you're throwing up and your stomach hurts, maybe you have a stomach virus. So the next time you're feeling yucky, tell your parents and doctor your symptoms so you can get better!
V
Varicella Zoster (Say: vair-uh-SEL-uh zos-ter): This is the medical name for the virus that causes chickenpox, which is known for its red, itchy bumps. Most kids don't get chickenpox now that there's a shot that prevents this itchy illness.
Z
Zoonosis (Say: zo-OH-no-sis): Zoonosis means a disease that people can get from animals. Zoonoses include ringworm, Salmonella infection, and rabies. You can help prevent zoonoses by keeping your pet healthy, staying away from wild animals, and always washing your hands after touching animals. You probably saw the word "zoo" in "zoonosis" — and now you know why!