Peeling skin on your child’s hands can be painful and embarrassing. It can occur due to direct skin damage, such as excessive sun exposure, injury or infection. However, it can also be the symptom of a more serious medical condition.

Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in the body is used to build strong bones and teeth. The remaining calcium circulates in the organs, tissues and bloodstream. In certain situations, calcium deposits can accumulate in various tissues of the body, either in specific locations or in a widespread pattern.

Although most common in children, ear infections occur in people of all ages. Often, ear infections are complications of the cold or a respiratory infection, but they also can result from irritants such as water being trapped inside the ear.

Cholesterol is a type of waxy lipid used as a structural component of cell membranes and a precursor molecule to hormones. It is also a risk factor in heart disease. There is a lot of confusion surrounding cholesterol because the amount we eat in our diet does not necessary translate to the amount in our body.

Prescription medications often come in a variety of different formulations and doses, particularly compared from one country to the next. One such medication, Augmentin, is made by GlaxoSmithKline and is a combination of two different antibiotics.

A sprained wrist is a common fall-related injury, since you instinctively extend your hand and often land with your weight on your wrist. If you're an athlete, a sprained wrist can put a major wrench in your plans when you're taken out of the game for a few weeks.

Black diarrhea is often the sign of blood in the digestive tract that can have multiple causes depending on where the bleeding is coming from. Locations can range from anywhere from the nose or mouth to the colon, though bleeding lower in the GI tract tends to present as blood in the stool more than as black diarrhea.

The bacteria Mycobacteria tuberculosis causes tuberculosis. Although tuberculosis, or TB, primarily affects the lungs, it can spread through the blood stream to other sites, a circumstance called extrapulmonary or disseminated tuberculosis.

The upper back contains two segments of the backbone, known as the cervical and thoracic spine. Multiple nerves come out of the spine in the upper back and can become compressed or pinched. A slipped disc or pressure from nearby muscles and tendons can compress nerves.

Water retention usually occurs during premenstrual syndrome, medication, disease or excessive sitting or standing. Also called edema, water retention is defined by the University of Maryland Medical Center as the accumulation of abnormally large amounts of bodily fluid.

The naturally occurring flavonoid compounds diosmin and hesperidin are used to treat health problems associated with inflammation and swelling in the veins. An oral prescription medication called diosmiplex (Vasculera) contains diosmin with hesperidin constituents. The flavonoid complex is also available as a dietary supplement. Clinical studies have examined the use of the drug formulation for conditions of chronic venous insufficiency, leg ulcers, varicose veins and inflamed hemorrhoids.

Lexapro is the brand name for escitalopram, an antidepressant medication belonging to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Lexapro is a safe and effective medication for most people, but it has possible side effects.