Bird flu (avian influenza) is an infection from a type of influenza (flu) virus that usually spreads in birds and other animals. Sometimes, humans can get bird flu from infected animals. Like the versions of flu that people usually get, bird flu can make you severely ill. It’s extremely rare for it to spread from person to person. You might hear about bird flu when there’s …

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition that causes itchy skin that gets dry and scaly. It tends to come and go and may only be in childhood or may affect you your entire life. In people with light-colored skin, atopic dermatitis looks like red rashes. People with darker skin may develop brown, purple or gray rashes. Atopic dermatitis vs eczema: …

Atrial flutter is a common type of supraventricular arrhythmia. This means it’s an abnormal heart rhythm that starts in the upper chambers of your heart. With atrial flutter, your heart beats in a fast but consistent pattern. Faulty electrical signals cause this to happen. A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute when you’re at rest. Atrial flutter can make your heart’s upper …

An atrioventricular (AV) canal defect is a congenital (present at birth) heart condition. It describes a group of several heart issues, including a hole in the wall (septum) at the center of your heart and problems with the way your heart’s valves work. Having a hole in the wall that separates the right and left sides of your heart is like a pipe with a …

Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) is a type of irregular heartbeat, also called an arrhythmia. It is the most common type of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). People with AVNRT have a very fast heartbeat that often starts and ends suddenly. In AVNRT, the heart beats more than 100 times a minute. The condition is due to a change in heart signaling. …

Vaginal atrophy is a condition where the lining of your vagina gets drier and thinner. This results in itching, burning and pain during sex, among other symptoms. The condition also includes urinary tract problems such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urinary incontinence. Vaginal atrophy most often occurs during perimenopause and menopause when your ovaries produce less estrogen. It can occur in younger women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) when their estrogen …

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is a condition where a child doesn’t form healthy emotional bonds with their caretakers (parental figures), often because of emotional neglect or abuse at an early age. Children with RAD have trouble managing their emotions. They struggle to form meaningful connections with other people. Children with RAD rarely seek or show signs of comfort and may …

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common and most studied neurodevelopmental disorders in children. “Neuro” means nerves. Scientists have discovered there are differences in the brains, nerve networks and neurotransmitters of people with ADHD. ADHD is a long-term (chronic) brain condition that causes executive dysfunction, which means it disrupts a person’s ability to manage their own emotions, thoughts and …

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a condition that affects the development of your brain. It starts in childhood. While people commonly outgrow this condition, many don’t. In children, ADHD can affect things like school performance and social skills. It can have very similar effects in adults, affecting things like work performance, friendships, relationships and mental health. How does this condition affect my …