Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care for the patients and families we serve. Whether you're looking for information about treatments for a particular illness or want to browse through related articles and links, our Care Guides and other Health Library materials can be valuable resources.

These Care Guides are designed to complement the health education you are receiving from your health care providers. However, your providers should always be your primary resource for health education.

Care Guide Topics

Stay informed about your child's health with these articles and educational materials. This section of our website is currently under construction, so please check back often for additional topics.

• Asthma
  Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs causing them to become irritated, swollen, and inflamed. Patients with asthma may find that certain triggers can make breathing difficult and cause coughing or wheezing.
  
  
• Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
  Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a chronic (long-lasting), inflammatory skin condition that begins in childhood and causes significant itching and discomfort, sleep disruption, stress, and decreased quality of life in patients and their families.
  

• Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
  Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs when the diaphragm muscle fails to close completely while the fetus is developing inside the mother's uterus. The diaphragm is the muscle used for breathing and separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.
  
  
• Food Allergies
  A food allergy is a reaction by the body that happens when the immune system mistakenly identifies an ingredient in a food, most frequently a protein, as an “enemy” and develops a response against it. 
  
  
• Rhinitis
  Rhinitis is a very common chronic nasal condition that can cause local irritation or even inflammation of the lining of the nose. Typical symptoms include sneezing, runny nose (also called rhinorrhea), nasal congestion (stuffy nose), and nasal itching.