Conditions We Treat

Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)

Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is an injury to the outer side of the elbow where the muscles and tendons attach to the bone. The muscles or tendons of the forearm that pull your wrist back (extend the wrist) get damaged.

Sacrococcygeal Teratoma (SCT)

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is a tumor that forms on a fetus’ tailbone, also called the coccyx. The tumors are usually not cancerous (benign) but can be life-threatening if not treated. SCT is rare, occurring in about 1 in 35,000-40,000 births. They are more common in males than females.

Safer Sex Guidelines for Teens

The only safe sex is no sex, most healthcare providers say. But certain precautions and safe behaviors can reduce a person's risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection.

Safety and Injury Prevention for Teens

Detailed information on safety and injury prevention for teens

Safety for You and Your Child

You can help your child by being prepared and preventing injuries from happening. It is important to take charge of your child's health and follow a program designed to help you and your family stay healthy and safe.

Sarcoma

Sarcomas of Bone

Scabies in Children

Scabies is an infestation of tiny bugs called mites on the skin. It causes a small red rash and intense itching. This infection is very contagious. It often spreads from child to child while children are sleeping together in the same bed or have close personal contact.

Scarlet Fever in Children

Scarlet fever is an infectious disease that causes a rash. It is caused by the same kind of bacteria that cause strep throat.

Schizophrenia in Children

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness. It is a long-lasting and disabling problem of the brain. A child with this disorder has unusual behavior and strange feelings.

School Refusal

There are many reasons why a child would feel anxious and not want to go to school. Read on to learn more about school refusal.

School-Age (6 to 12 Years)

Detailed information on the school-aged child, ages 6 to 12 years

School-Based Occupational Therapy

School-based occupational therapy is a type of help given to children at school to help them be more successful.

Scleroderma in Children

Scleroderma is an ongoing (chronic) disease that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue. It can affect the joints, skin, and internal organs. It is degenerative and gets worse over time.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis (skoe-lee-OH-sis) is a deformity of the spine which results in a rotation and curve of the spine.

Scoliosis in Children

Scoliosis is a deformity of the backbone (spine). It's when the spine has a side-to-side curve. The curve of the spine measures 10° or more.

Scrotal Swelling in Children

Scrotal swelling is a common problem in baby boys and young boys. It can have many causes. These are often divided into painless and painful scrotal swelling.

Sealants

Dental sealants are thin, plastic films painted on the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars. They are highly effective in preventing tooth decay.

Second Trimester Prenatal Screening Tests

Screening is usually performed by taking a sample of the mother's blood between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy (16th to 18th is ideal).

Second-Degree Burn in Children

A burn is damage to tissues of the body caused by contact with things such as heat, radiation, or chemicals. A second-degree burn affects the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and part of the inner layer of skin (dermis).

Seizures and Epilepsy in Children

A seizure occurs when part(s) of the brain receives a burst of abnormal electrical signals that temporarily interrupts normal electrical brain function.

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for Cerebral Palsy

Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a type of spine surgery that’s done to reduce muscle tightness and spasms in the legs of children with cerebral palsy.

Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is a rare condition when a child can’t speak in certain settings, but can speak fine in others. It can cause problems with school and social situations.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety usually begins around 6 months of age. Babies may suddenly be afraid of familiar people, such as babysitters or grandparents.

Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children

Learn details about separation anxiety disorder in children, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Sepsis in the Newborn

Newborn sepsis is a severe infection in an infant younger than 28 days old. The infection is in your baby’s blood. But it may affect any body system or the whole body.

Septic Arthritis (Infectious Arthritis) in Children

Septic arthritis is an infection in the joint fluid (synovial fluid) and joint tissues. It occurs more often in children than in adults.

Septoplasty for Children

Septoplasty is surgery to fix a septum. The septum is the wall that divides your child's nose into two sides. It is made of soft cartilage and bone and is covered with a mucous membrane. A deviated septum is when the septum is not in the middle.

Sever Disease in Children

Sever disease occurs when a tendon in 1 or both of your child's heels becomes injured and inflamed.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Children

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral illness. It is very contagious and can spread quickly. It can cause mild illness, severe illness, or death.

Severe Combined Immune Deficiency

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) in Children

SCID is a very rare disease that can be deadly. It causes a child to have a very weak immune system. Read on to learn details about SCID such as causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is any act of a sexual nature upon a child.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Adolescents

A detailed look at STIs and teens, from protection and treatment to different types of STIs.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Sexually transmitted infections can be spread when a person is exposed to blood, skin, semen, vaginal fluids, or other bodily fluids that have a virus, bacteria, or parasite during sexual contact. 

Shellfish Allergy Diet for Children

Detailed information on a shellfish food allergy, including how to read a label for a shellfish-free diet and how to safely eat at a restaurant.

Shin Splints

Shin splints are a painful condition that affects the front and/or sides of the lower leg.

Shingles (Herpes Zoster) in Children

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful skin rash. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This is the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Short Bowel Syndrome

Short bowel syndrome is exactly what the name sounds like - a condition in which the bowel is too short generally due to surgical resection.

Short Bowel Syndrome in Children

Short bowel syndrome is when the body has trouble absorbing nutrients from food because of a problem with the small intestine. It often happens to children who have had a large part of their small intestine removed. This complex condition can be life-threatening in some babies and children.

Shoulder Sprain

A shoulder sprain is a stretching or tearing of the Acromioclavicular (AC) ligament. This is located where your collar bone and shoulder meet, often called the AC joint.

Sialorrhea (Drooling)

Sialorrhea, also known as hypersalivation or drooling, means excessive saliva flow. Anterior sialorrhea is when patients have forward spillage of saliva from their mouths onto their faces and clothes. Posterior sialorrhea is when patients have spillage of saliva from their mouths down their airways.

Sickle Cell Disease and Pregnancy

How sickle cell disease affects pregnancy depends on whether you have sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait. Read on to learn more.

Sickle Cell Disease in Children

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that is present at birth. Children with SCD make an abnormal type of hemoglobin. This is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to all parts of the body.

Signs of Problems in Speech, Language, and Hearing Development:

Detailed information on speech, language, and hearing problems during development

Signs of Respiratory Distress in Children

Detailed information on the signs of respiratory distress in children

Single Gene Defects

Detailed information on single gene defects and patterns of inheritance

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is a general term that indicates inflammation in the sinuses.

Sinusitis in Children

Sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses. These infections usually happen after a cold or with allergies. Here's what you need to know.

Skin Cancer in Children

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that grows in the cells of the skin. It can spread to and damage nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body. Skin cancer is rare in children.

Skin Color Changes

The color of a baby's skin can often help identify possible problems in another area of the body. Here are some skin color changes to be aware of.

Skin Injury in Children

Detailed information on skin injuries, including blisters, burns, sunburn, and bites

Skull Base Rhabdomyosarcoma in Children

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of cancer. It starts in cells that grow into skeletal muscle cells. The cells are called rhabdomyoblasts. Skeletal muscles are the muscles that move the body. The cancer is most common in children younger than age 10.

Sleep

Detailed information on healthy sleep habits of children, including information on nightmares and night terrors

Sleep Apnea

A sprain is an injury to a ligament, or band of tough, elastic-like tissue that connects bone to bone and holds a joint in place. 

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) is defined as the femoral neck and femoral shaft (top portions of the femur) moving either posteriorly (back), anteriorly (forward) or laterally (to the side) away from the femoral epiphysis and acetabulum (the ball portion of the femur). A SCFE can be either unilateral (one side) or bilateral (both sides).

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in Children

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a condition of the hip joint that affects children. In SCFE, the ball of the thighbone (femoral head) slips off the neck of the thighbone.

Slow or Poor Infant Weight Gain

Are you concerned that your little one has slow or poor weight gain? Unsure? This article will help you sort out your questions and concerns.

Small Cuts and Scrapes

Wash the cut area well with soap and water, but do not scrub the wound. A dirty cut or scrape that is not thoroughly cleaned can cause scarring.

Small for Gestational Age

Small for gestational age is a term used to describe babies that are smaller than normal for the number of weeks of pregnancy. These babies have birth weight below the 10th percentile. This means they are smaller than many other babies of the same gestational age.

Smoking

Ninety percent of new smokers are children and teenagers. In many cases, they are replacing the smokers who quit or died prematurely from a smoking-related disease.

Snakebites in Children

Both venomous and nonvenomous snakes can bite. It's important to treat all snakebites as if they are venomous. Here's what you need to know.

Snapping Hip Syndrome

Snapping hip syndrome is a condition in which you may sense something catching or hear a popping sound or click in your hip when your hip joint moves. If you put your hand over the hip area, you might feel or even see the snap happen when walking, running, bending or getting up from a sitting position.

Sodium and Fluid Restriction for Children with Kidney Failure

Detailed information on controlling sodium in your child's diet.

Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas start as painless lumps or swellings, but they are cancerous tumors. They occur most commonly in the arms, legs, chest and abdomen in children.

Sore Nipples

Read on to learn about possible causes and treatment for sore nipples when breastfeeding.

Soy Allergy Diet for Children

When your child has a soy allergy, they can't have any foods containing soy. Read on for detailed information on how to manage a soy-free diet. This includes how to read food labels, other possible sources of soy, and tips when eating out.

Spasticity

Spasticity is a muscle control disorder that involves tight or stiff muscles and an inability to control those muscles. Spasticity affects about 80 percent of people with cerebral palsy and can make normal movement, speech and walking difficult. It can also affect people with traumatic brain injury.

Speech Sound Disorders in Children

A speech sound disorder means that a child has trouble saying certain sounds and words past the expected age. This can make it hard to understand what a child is trying to say. Read on to learn about causes, risks, and treatments for these disorders.

Spina Bifida and Myelomeningocele

Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect, which is a problem with the spinal cord or the structures that cover it.

Spina Bifida in Children

Spina bifida is a birth defect that causes problems with the spine, spinal cord, and the surrounding nerves.

Spinal Cord Tumor

Spinal cord tumors are growths that develop within the spinal canal or the bones of the spine. They can cause pain, loss of sensation, and muscle weakness. Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Spinal Injury

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) are a group of genetic (passed down by parents) diseases that affect motor neurons (nerve cells) in the spinal cord, causing the weakening of voluntary muscles (muscles that you control).

Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Children

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disease of the nerves and muscles caused by certain genes. It causes muscle wasting and weakness.

Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture) for Children

A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is a test that checks the health of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is a fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The test also measures the pressure in the spinal canal.

Spleen Injury

This Helping Hand™ covers spleen injuries. Due to where the spleen is in the body and its size, it can get injured easily. Learn what to expect if your child has a spleen injury.

Splinters

A splinter is a sharp sliver of wood, glass, or other debris that is lodged underneath the skin. Removal of small, superficial splinters can usually be done at home. Read on to learn how.

Spondylolysthesis/Spondylolysis

Spondylolysthesis and Spondylolysis are common causes of low back pain in adolescents.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax

This Helping Hand™ covers a spontaneous pneumothorax, which usually happens when a weak part of the lung is leaking air. These areas are like blisters on the lungs, called blebs. They can burst and leak air into the pleural space.

Sports and Children with Special Needs

Children with special needs are sometimes not encouraged to exercise, because their parents or guardians fear they'll be injured. But physical activity is as important for children with special needs as it is for any child.

Sports Injuries and Children

Detailed information on sports injuries in children, including overuse injuries, sprains, strains, and heat-related illnesses

Sports Safety for Children

Because they are still growing, children are more susceptible to sports injuries. Half of those injuries could be prevented with proper safety gear, safer playing environments, and established safety rules.

Sports Safety for Teens

Detailed information on sports safety

Sports Safety—Identifying High-Risk Situations

Playing sports has many benefits for a child. But the correct safety measures need to be taken. Read on to learn more.

Sprains

There are three types of sprains, which range from mild (Grade I) to severe (Grade III).

Sprains and Strains in Children

Sprains and strains are types of injuries. A sprain is an injury to a ligament while a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon.

Stages of Play

Children go through distinct stages of play as they grow. Each stage is critically important to the development of the next.

Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers in Children

Read on for details about stomach and duodenal ulcers in children. Learn about causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Storing Your Breastmilk

A helpful look at practical and health considerations when storing your breastmilk.

Straddle Injury/Genital Trauma

A straddle injury (genital trauma) occurs when a female hits the vulva or perineum (external female genitalia) on an object and the force generated by the weight of her body causes an injury. This can occur during a fall or accident.

Strains

A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, the tough fibrous tissues that connects muscle to bone.

Strep Throat (Bacterial)

Most sore throats are caused by viruses. Strep throat is a contagious sore throat that comes on suddenly and is caused by bacteria (germs) called streptococci, or strep for short. Antibiotic medicine must be given as soon as possible to prevent the strep germs from spreading in the body.

Stress Fractures

A stress fracture is an overuse injury resulting from repetitive forces that are directed to weight bearing bones.

Stress Fractures in Young Athletes

Stress fractures happen when muscles are too tired to take on the impact of exercise, and the bones absorb the added stress. When those bones become too strained, they develop a tiny break known as a stress fracture.

Stridor in Children

Stridor is a noisy or high-pitched sound with breathing. It is a sign that the upper airway is partially blocked. It may involve the nose, mouth, sinuses, voice box (larynx), or windpipe (trachea).

Structural Abnormalities- Deletions (Cri-du-Chat Syndrome) and Duplications (Pallister-Killian Syndrome)

Detailed information on structural abnormalities, including chromosome deletions and duplications.

Stuttering in Children

Stuttering is a speech problem. The normal flow of speech is disrupted. A child who stutters repeats or prolongs sounds, syllables, or words. Stuttering is different from repeating words when learning to speak. Stuttering may make it difficult for a child to communicate with others.

Styes in Children

A stye is a sore red bump on the edge of the eyelid. Styes are one of the most common eye problems in children. Here's what you should know.

Subglottic Stenosis

Subglottic stenosis is a narrowing of the airway in the part of the voice box below the vocal cords (glottis). There are two kinds of subglottic stenosis: congenital subglottic stenosis and acquired subglottic stenosis.

Submucous Cleft Palate

A submucous cleft palate (SMCP) results from a lack of normal fusion of the muscles within the soft palate as the baby is developing in utero. Frequent middle ear infections, nasal speech and early feeding difficulties may be the first indicators that a child has a submucous cleft palate.

Substance Exposure

Detailed information on substance exposure of newborns

Substance Use Disorders

When a person loses control and misuses a substance like alcohol or drugs, it can become a harmful habit. This is called substance use disorder.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old. SIDS is sometimes called crib death because the death may happen when a baby is sleeping in a crib. It’s one of the leading causes of death in babies from ages 1 month to 1 year. Read on to learn more. 

Suicidal Behaviors

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can affect children and teenagers. Most children and adolescents who attempt suicide show warning signs. It is vital that families are aware of these signs and discuss concerns, ideally prior to a life-threatening mental health crisis.

Sunburn and Children

Protect your child from the sun. Up to 80% of total lifetime sun exposure occurs in the first 18 years of life.

Superficial Injuries of the Face and Head- Overview

During a child's day, minor injuries may happen during play and sports activities. The face and head are especially at risk for cuts and scrapes.

Superficial Injuries to the Face and Head

Children are more likely to end up with a cut or scrape on the head or face. One reason is that children's sense of balance isn't completely adjusted.

Support Groups

Detailed information on finding a support group for parents affected by a birth defect.

Surgery and the Breastfeeding Infant

If your baby needs surgery, you may feel helpless. But there's something you can do to make this experience a little less stressful: breastfeed. Read on for helpful tips.

Surgical Overview

Detailed information on surgery in children

Swallowing Disorders

A swallowing disorder can result in aspiration or food “going down the wrong pipe.” Aspiration can place a child at a higher risk for respiratory/pulmonary issues.

Swimmer’s Ear in Children

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an inflammation of the external ear canal. Swimmer’s ear is caused by bacteria or fungi. Water that stays in the ear canal during swimming, for instance, may let bacteria and fungi grow.

Symptomatic Conditions of Allergy in Children

Detailed information on symptomatic conditions of allergy, including asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, rhinitis, and urticaria

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

A detailed look at cystic fibrosis symptoms.

Symptoms of Possible Eye Problems in Children

Symptoms of eye problems in children include crossed eyes, redness in the eyes, squinting, and excessive tearing.

Syncope in Children

Syncope is a brief loss of consciousness and muscle tone caused when not enough blood gets to the brain. Syncope is commonly called fainting. In most children, it’s usually harmless. But in a few children, syncope is serious. This is usually because of a heart problem, or less often a neurological problem.

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion in Children

SIADH is when the body makes too much antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This is a hormone that normally helps the kidneys conserve the correct amount of water in the body. SIADH causes the body to retain water. This lowers the level of sodium in the blood. SIADH is rare. It most often happens to children who are in the hospital.

Syphilis

Syphilis (SIF-i-lis) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Anyone who is sexually active has a chance of getting syphilis.