English textbooks

You often have a bone marrow biopsy as an outpatient. This means you go home the same day. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider’s practices. A bone marrow biopsy is often done using a pelvic…

What is very low birth weight? Very low birth weight (VLBW) is a term used to describe babies who are born weighing less than 3 pounds, 4 ounces (1.5 kilograms). It is very rare that babies are born this tiny. Only about 1% of…

What is separation anxiety? Part of a baby’s normal development is learning that separations from parents are not long-term (permanent). Young babies don’t understand time, so they think a parent who walks out of the room is gone forever. They…

What are flea, mite, or chigger bites in children? Fleas, mites, and chiggers are different kinds of small insects. They are also parasites. This means they feed off the blood, skin, or both of animals and humans. These insects are…

Ticks are small spider-like creatures that live in grass, bushes, wooded areas, and along seashores. They attach their bodies onto a human or animal host. Ticks prefer hairy areas, such as the scalp, behind the ear, in the armpit and groin,…

Biting is fairly common in young children. But it is often worrisome to adults. A family member, friend, or classmate at daycare or preschool may be the one bitten. Biting can be painful and frightening when it happens. It upsets…

What is ecchymosis or bruising of the eye? Ecchymosis is also called a black eye. It usually happens from an injury to the eye, causing the tissue around the eye to become bruised. Your healthcare provider will examine the eye closely…

What is color blindness? Color blindness is when you see colors differently than most people do. The retina is the light-sensitive lining in the back part of your eye. It sends visual information to your brain. Your retina has special…

What is blood? Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that circulates through the entire body. What is the function of blood? Blood carries the following to the body tissues: Blood carries the following away from the body tissues: Waste…

What is fetal blood sampling? Fetal blood sampling is a procedure to take a small amount of blood from an unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy. Fetal blood sampling is usually done by a perinatologist with special training. This is a healthcare provider who…

What is body mass index? Body mass index (BMI) is a measurement using weight and height that gives an estimate of body fat. It’s an easy way to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. BMI is…

What is bone grafting? Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that uses transplanted bone to repair and rebuild diseased or damaged bones. A bone graft is a choice for repairing bones almost anywhere in your body. Your surgeon might take…