Related Conditions & Treatments | Boston Children's Hospital

Condition

22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a genetic condition that causes a combination of medical problems. These problems may include heart defects, cleft palate, speech or feeding problems, difficulty fighting infections, low...

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Condition

Achondroplasia

Achondroplasia is a genetic bone disorder, affecting one in 20,000 babies. It is the most common type of dwarfism.

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Condition

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) involves a brief but intense attack of inflammation (swelling) in the brain and spinal cord that damages the brain's myelin.

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Condition

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a neurologic condition that can cause muscle weakness and possible paralysis.

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Condition

Acute Transverse Myelitis (ATM)

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) involves a brief, intense attack of swelling in the spinal cord that damages myelin.

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Condition

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare genetic condition that causes the buildup of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in the brain.

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Condition

Amniotic Band Syndrome

Amniotic band syndrome (constriction ring syndrome) happens when fibrous bands of the amniotic sac get tangled around a developing fetus.

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Condition

Anaplastic Astrocytomas

Anaplastic astrocytomas are brain tumors that arise from brain cells called astrocytes, which are a type of glial cell.

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Condition

Anencephaly

Anencephaly is a condition present at birth that affects the formation of a baby's brain and the skull bones that surround the head.

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Condition

AP 4 Associated Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

AP-4-associated hereditary spastic paraplegia (AP-4-HSP) is a group of slowly progressing neurodegenerative disorders.

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Condition

Arterial Ischemic Stroke

An arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) is an injury to the brain or spinal cord caused by a lack of oxygen to the area affected.

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Condition

Arteriovenous Malformations

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle of arteries and veins in the brain that disrupt the normal flow of blood.

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Condition

Arthrogryposis

Arthrogryposis is a term used to describe conditions characterized by stiff joints and abnormally developed muscles.

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Condition

Astrocytoma

Astrocytomas are tumors that arise in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and coordination.

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Condition

Atlantoaxial Instability

Atlantoaxial instability is a condition of too much mobility in the neck that can lead to spinal cord compression.

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Condition

Atrioventricular Canal Defect

An atrioventricular canal defect, or AV canal, is a combination of several closely associated heart problems that result in a large defect in the center of the heart.

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Condition

Birth Defects and Congenital Anomalies

A birth defect is a health problem or a physical abnormality.

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Condition

Bone Tumors and Bone Cysts

Bone tumors and bone cysts are types of abnormal growth within a bone. Most are benign (noncancerous).

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Condition

Brachial Plexus Birth Injury

Brachial plexus birth injury is an injury to the brachial plexus nerves that occurs during childbirth.

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Condition

Brain Abscess

A brain abscess is a brain infection that may cause problems with a child's brain and spinal cord function.

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Condition

Brain Aneurysms

A brain aneurysm is a weak point in a blood vessel within the brain.

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Condition

Brain Tumors

Childhood brain tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), but both types can be life-threatening.

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Condition

CDKL5 Disorder

CDKL5 disorder is a rare neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by early onset epilepsy, low muscle tone, and developmental challenges.

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Condition

Cerebral Arteriopathies

Cerebral arteriopathies are disorders that affect the arteries in the brain and are associated with an increased risk of stroke.

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Condition

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect muscle tone, posture, and movement as a result of damage to the brain of an infant.

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Condition

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare but serious condition that is a cause of stroke in children and newborns.

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Condition

Chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma is a cancerous tumor that typically develops in the cartilage that coats the ends of bones and forms joints.

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Condition

Choroid Plexus Brain Tumor

Choroid plexus brain tumors develop in the tissue located in the spaces of the brain called ventricles.

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Condition

Congenital Cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus related to the herpes virus group of infections. It is incurable and is a lifetime infection.

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Condition

Congenital Heart Defects

A congenital heart defect is a structural problem of the heart that develops during pregnancy.

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Condition

Congenital Limb Differences

Congenital limb differences occur when a baby’s arm or leg does not form properly during pregnancy.

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Condition

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetic condition that affects development and growth.

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Condition

Cortical Visual Impairment

Cortical visual impairment is diagnosed when children show abnormal visual responses that aren’t caused by the eyes themselves.

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Condition

Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma is a childhood brain tumor.

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Condition

Developmental Disabilities

Developmental delays refer to when developmental skills are at a lower level than expected for a child’s age, such as language, motor, cognition, or play.

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Condition

DORV

Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a type of rare congenital heart condition.

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Condition

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common and most severe type of muscular dystrophy.

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Condition

Ebstein's Anomaly

Ebstein’s anomaly is a rare heart defect that affects the tricuspid valve.

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Condition

Ependymoma

An ependymoma is a tumor that arises from cells that are found lining the ventricular system (areas of the brain or spinal cord where spinal fluid is found).

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Condition

Ewing Sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma is a kind of cancer that grows in bones or soft tissues.

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Condition

Fabry Disease

Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disorder that is progressive in nature and affects many of the body’s systems.

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Condition

Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Familial dilated cardiomyopathy is when a genetic form of dilated cardiomyopathy occurs in multiple members of a family.

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Condition

Familial Isolated Congenital Heart Disease

Familial isolated congenital heart disease is a congenital heart condition that is both familial and isolated.

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Condition

Fibrosarcoma

A fibrosarcoma is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that originates in the connective fibrous tissue found at the ends of bones of the arm or legs, and then spreads to other...

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Condition

Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that can cause a range of learning and developmental problems.

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Condition

Germ Cell Brain Tumors

Germ cell tumors of the brain develop from germ cells — the cells that later become sperm in the testicles or eggs in the ovaries.

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Condition

Giant Cell Tumor

A giant cell tumor is a benign solitary tumor that usually grows in the ends of long bones, and contains unusually large cells.

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Condition

Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiformes (GBMs) are high-grade gliomas that arise from the brain’s supportive tissue (glial cells).

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Condition

Glioma

A glioma is a kind of brain tumor that originates from glial cells, which support and nourish neurons in the brain.

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Condition

Glycogen Storage Disease

Glycogen storage disease interferes with the liver’s ability to convert glycogen into energy.

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Condition

GM1 Gangliosidosis

GM1 gangliosidosis, also called beta-galactosidase-1 deficiency, is a genetic disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

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Condition

GM2 Gangliosidosis

GM2 gangliosidosis is a rare genetic disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

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Condition

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurs when the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.

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Condition

Head or Brain Injury

Head injury is a broad term that describes many different types of conditions — ranging from bumps and bruises to concussions, skull fractures, and serious brain injuries.

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Condition

Heart Failure

Heart failure in children occurs when a child’s heart is not working as well as it should.

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Condition

Heart Tumor

A heart tumor, also known as a cardiac tumor, is a rare, abnormal growth that develops in the heart.

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Condition

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke is the result of bleeding in the brain.

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Condition

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) refers to a group of over 80 different genetic conditions that present with progressive spasticity (muscle tightness) and weakness.

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Condition

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a spectrum of heart diseases in which the left-heart structures are underdeveloped.

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Condition

Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is bleeding inside or around the ventricles — spaces in the brain that contain the cerebral spinal fluid.

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Condition

Klippel-Feil Syndrome

Klippel-Feil syndrome is a rare spinal condition characterized by a short neck, low hairline, and limited neck mobility.

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Condition

Limb Length Discrepancy

A limb-length discrepancy is when one leg or arm is shorter than the other leg or arm.

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Condition

Medulloblastoma

A medulloblastoma is a brain tumor located in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls complex motor functions.

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Condition

Meningitis

Meningitis is a bacterial or viral infection that causes three thin layers of tissue that surround the brain and the spinal cord to swell.

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Condition

Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

Metachromatic leukodystrophy is a rare genetic condition in which an abnormal accumulation of fat molecules (sulfatides) affects cells in the nervous system.

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Condition

Movement Disorders

Children with movement disorders have involuntary movements or trouble moving in the way they intend to.

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Condition

Moyamoya Disease

Moyamoya is a rare condition in which the blood vessels (internal carotid arteries) that supply blood to the brain become narrowed.

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Condition

Muscle Weakness (Hypotonia)

Hypotonia is decreased muscle tone.

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Condition

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a general name for a group of rare diseases that cause muscle weakness. It is caused by mutations in certain genes.

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Condition

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that causes the muscles, especially in the eyes, mouth, throat, and limbs, to weaken after periods of activity.

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Condition

Neonatal Stroke

Neonatal stroke is stroke in newborns between birth and 28 days.

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Condition

Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a cancerous tumor that begins in nerve tissue of young children.

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Condition

Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis 1 is a genetic condition that causes symptoms including tumors (called neurofibromas) formed from nerve tissue.

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Condition

Neurofibromatosis Type 2

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a genetic disorder that causes slow-growing tumors to develop on the eighth cranial nerve.

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Condition

Neurofibrosarcoma

Neurofibrosarcomas (peripheral nerve sheath tumors) are malignant tumors that form in the soft tissues surrounding the peripheral nerves.

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Condition

Neurogenic Bladder

Neurogenic bladder is a urinary tract dysfunction in which the bladder doesn’t empty, properly due to a neurological condition or spinal cord injury.

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Condition

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is characterized by fragile bones that break easily without a specific cause.

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Condition

Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer among children, adolescents, and young adults.

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Condition

Pediatric and Childhood Cancers

While childhood cancer is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring intensive treatment, the majority of pediatric cancers are treatable.

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Condition

Peripheral Nerve Injury

Peripheral nerve injuries interfere with signals between the brain and other parts of the body.

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Condition

Periventricular Leukomalacia

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a type of brain injury most common in very premature babies.

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Condition

Pilocytic Astrocytoma

A pilocytic astrocytoma is a brain tumor that originates from star-shaped cells called astrocytes.

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Condition

Radial Longitudinal Deficiency

Radial longitudinal deficiency (radial club hand) is a rare condition that affects the forearm.

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Condition

Rett Syndrome

Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes a loss of spoken language and motor skills, as well as behavioral and neurological problems.

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Condition

Skeletal Dysplasia

Skeletal dysplasia is a category of rare genetic disorders that cause abnormal development of a baby’s bones, joints, and cartilage.

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Condition

Spina Bifida

Spina bifida occurs when the brain, spinal cord, or the membranes that cover them (meninges) do not completely develop.

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Condition

Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury is any damage to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma, rather than a birth defect or medical condition.

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Condition

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Spinal muscular atrophy is when muscles throughout the body are weakened because nerve cells in the spinal cord and brainstem do not work properly.

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Condition

Stroke

Stroke is a general term that is used to describe an injury to the brain caused by either bleeding (referred to as hemorrhagic stroke) or a lack of oxygen due...

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Condition

Tethered Spinal Cord

A tethered spinal cord occurs when the spinal cord is attached to tissue around the spine, most commonly at the base.

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Condition

Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a serious congenital heart defect where the heart’s anatomy prevents enough oxygen-poor (blue) blood from flowing to the lungs to receive oxygen.

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Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with pulmonary atresia is a more severe form of TOF, where the heart’s anatomy prevents enough oxygen-poor (blue) blood from flowing to the lungs to receive...

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Condition

Transposition of the Great Arteries

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is when the “great” arteries, the aorta and the right ventricle, are reversed in their origins from the heart.

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Condition

Trisomy 18 and 13

Trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 are fatal genetic birth disorders.

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Condition

Ulnar Longitudinal Deficiency

Children with ulnar longitudinal deficiency are born with their wrist in a fixed, bent position toward the little finger side of the hand.

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Condition

Vasculitis

Vasculitis, also called angiitis or arteritis, is an umbrella term for more than a dozen conditions, all of which involve inflammation of the blood vessels.

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Condition

Venous Malformation

A venous malformation (VM) is a bluish lesion caused by widened, abnormally shaped veins.

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Condition

Walking (Gait) Abnormalities

A gait abnormality is an unusual walking pattern.

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