Health A-Z index

Pacemaker surgery

Pacemaker surgery is required to put a pacemaker in a child. Learn about what a pacemaker is, how the surgery is done and what happens after surgery.

Pacemaker: Caring for your child at home

A pacemaker is a small device that uses electrical impulses to control the speed and rhythm of your child's heartbeat. Learn how to care for your child with a pacemaker.

Pain after an operation: Taking care of your child's pain at home

Most children have at least some pain after an operation, which is called post-operative pain. Learn about relieving a child's post-operative pain at home.

Pain and cancer

Pain can be caused by cancer, procedures, treatments or symptoms of cancer and treatments. Find out how you can manage and how your health-care team can help you.

Pain assessment

Learn about the process and goals of pain assessment to provide the information necessary to initiate optimal pain treatment strategies.

Pain at home: Taking care of your child

This page give advice on how to relieve a child's pain at home.

Pain management after heart surgery

Read about pain management for children who have had heart surgery.

Pain management for common childhood pain and injuries

Discusses pain management for common childhood pain and injuries such as ear infections, colic, and injections.

Pain management plan

An overview of the components of a pain management plan for children.

Pain medicines

Learn about pain relief medication and how to administer it, including patient controlled analgesia.

Pain relief: Comfort kit

Learn techniques to help distract your child from, and manage, their pain in the hospital and at home.

Pain treatment

Learn about techniques for pain management and the treatment of pain.

Pain: How to talk to kids about their pain

Learn about how to talk to your child about how much pain they are feeling and some strategies to help them cope with pain.

Pancreatitis

Learn what causes pancreatitis, what the signs and symptoms are and what treatments are available

Parenting a child with leukemia

Learn about ways you can manage the stress of parenting your child with leukemia.

Parenting your child with a blood and marrow transplant

Learn tips on how you can cope, after your child's blood and marrow transplant (BMT).

Partial epilepsy syndromes

Read about the causes, symptoms and treatments for partial epilepsy syndromes.

Parvovirus infection (fifth disease, erythema infectiosum)

Learn about the symptoms of Parvovirus B19 infection in children, which is also called fifth disease or erythema infectiosum.

Pasteurized food and babies

Learn the difference between pasteurized and unpasteurized foods so you can safely feed your baby solids.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature babies

Learn about patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature babies and the treatments available for it.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA): Closure in the heart catheterization lab

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is when the ductus arteriosus does not close properly after birth. Learn about the operation to correct PDA and recovery.

Patient-controlled and nurse-controlled analgesia

Find out how PCA and NCA help your child get relief from severe, short-term pain in the hospital.

Pavlik harness

Learn how to care for your baby and use the Pavlik harness orthosis.

Peanut allergy

A peanut allergy is a life-long reaction to the proteins in found peanuts. Find out how to help your child manage it.

Pedestrian safety for children

Find out how to create safe walking routines for your child.

Performing grooming and personal care activities with arm and hand differences

Sheriauna is a young adult who is a below-the-elbow amputee. In this video, she demonstrates how she applies her makeup.

Performing kitchen activities with arm and hand differences

Learn from young people with arm and hand differences about how they perform meal preparation and dining activities in their own way.

Performing school, work, and computer-based activities with arm and hand differences

Learn from young people with arm and hand differences about how they perform school, work, and computer-based work in their own way.

Periodic fever adenitis pharyngitis aphthous ulcer (PFAPA) syndrome

Information about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of periodic fever adenitis pharyngitis aphthous ulcer (PFAPA) syndrome.

Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion using image guidance

Learn about what a PICC is and how and why this type of intravenous line is inserted.  

Peritoneal dialysis for a child

Learn what is involved in peritoneal dialysis and how it can benefit your child.

Peritonitis related to G tubes and GJ tubes

Peritonitis is a rare but serious complication related to G or GJ tube insertion. Find out what causes peritonitis related to G and GJ tubes, the signs and symptoms, and how it’s treated.

Personal care after scoliosis surgery

After scoliosis surgery, there are some personal care issues you may be faced with. Read the experiences of other teens that also had scoliosis surgery.

Personal stories

Here are the personal stories of four teens that have gone through scoliosis surgery. They share what they felt about surgery and how they coped.

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Read about the symptoms and treatment of whooping cough, a bacterial infection affecting breathing that can be prevented by vaccination.

PET (positron emission tomography) scan and cancer diagnosis

A PET scan is a diagnostic test that shows where cancer cells are in the body. Find out how PET scans are done, what to expect during the scan and when you get your results.

Pharmacist

Pharmacists are trained health professionals who are medication experts. Learn about the role they play in the health-care team.

Pharmacogenetics: Using precision medicine to find the right medication at the right dose

Pharmacogenetics is an example of precision medicine that uses a person’s genetic make-up to predict medication response.

Pharyngeal flap pharyngoplasty

Your child has been recommended to have an operation to help correct nasal-sounding speech (hypernasality). The operation is called a pharyngeal flap pharyngoplasty.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) transitions in the early years

Children growing up with phenylketonuria (PKU) need to incorporate health care into their normal routines. Read about encouraging proper development.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) transitions in the middle years

Children with phenylketonuria (PKU) need to learn how to balance everyday life and health care. Learn ways to encourage your child to manage their PKU.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) transitions in the teenage years

Teenagers with phenylketonuria (PKU) face the unique challenge of balancing their health with their growing independence. Read about how you can support your teen with PKU.

Phimosis

Information on tightness of the foreskin or phimosis. Learn what it is and how it is treated.

Phonological awareness

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize that words are made up of individual sounds. Phonological awareness goes through developmental stages like other language-related skills.

Phonological awareness: When to worry

When a child has problems with phonological awareness, they will have trouble with early reading skills. Learn about some signs to watch for.

Phonological problems: How to help your child

​There are specific games and exercises that parents can do to help increase phonological awareness in their child.

Phonological problems: Resources

There are books, games and computer programs available to parents to help their child with phonological awareness.

Physical activity after a kidney transplant

Physical activity after a liver transplant

Physical activity and intestinal failure

Physical activity plays an important role in improving the social, emotional and physical health of children who have intestinal failure.