Common afflictions and disorders of adolescents and teens

Amenorrhea is defined as a girl not having a menstrual period for three monthly cycles or longer.

Anorexia is a severe debilitating eating disorder that occurs most frequently in girls that is characterized by a distorted view of their body that leads them to dangerous weight loss behaviors.

Binge eating is a type of eating disorder where abnormally large amounts of food are eaten in a single sitting.

Girls and boys may both present with breast issues. Perhaps the commonest breast abnormality in young girls seen in the pediatrician's office is a one sided breast enlargement.

Bulimia is a type of eating disorder where a child or teenager has episodes of uncontrollable overeating.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial disease that is most commonly passed through any form of sexual contact. A Chlamydia infection can be easily treated if detected.

Late puberty may be defined as a situation where the body’s timing for sexual maturation is later than usual.

Depression is a common clinical condition that affects children and adolescent's mood and mental health. Clinical depression lasts for more than two weeks, and is severe enough to interfere with everyday living.

Dysmenorrhea is another term for what is commonly called severe and frequent menstrual pain or menstrual cramping.

The term “Eating disorder” refers to a variety of persistent and different eating or eating related behaviors that result in a change in the way a child/adolescent/young adult consumes or absorbs food and which significantly causes poorer physical and psychosocial functioning.

When the tissue that normally lines a woman's uterus (endometrium) grows outside of the uterus the condition is called endometriosis.

When women grow body hair more than is normal or in areas where hair growth usually occurs in men, such as the back, chest or face; the condition is known as hirsutism.

Galactorrhoea, refers to a non-breastfeeding person's breasts producing a milky substance from the nipple of either one or both breasts.

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that is spread through sexual contact. It can cause symptoms that impact the sexual organs as well as other areas of the body.

When infants, boys, or men have benign enlarged breasts, the condition is known as gynecomastia.

Herpes is a disease that affects the skin i.e., mouth, lips and face or the genitals. The symptoms typically involve sores that appear on the body and develop into itchy and painful blisters.

HIV is a virus that can destroy the body’s immune system. Over time and without treatment, the virus can cause AIDS, a life-threatening illness that occurs when the body’s immune system is greatly compromised.

Menstrual irregularities often occur during puberty; these may be irregular, infrequent or totally missed, periods, or periods with heavier than normal bleeding.

The labia (majora and minora) are the outer lips of the vagina. Both pairs of labia are separated from one another, however when the labia minora stick together this is known as labial adhesions.

Labial hypertrophy is a harmless condition where the inner labia (usually) is larger than normal, however either one or both labia can be affected.

Labial hypoplasia is the harmless condition where one or both sides of the labia either are missing or don't grow normally during puberty.

Mastalgia refers to any type of pain in the breast or muscles/joints near it.

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast, which may, or may not be related to an infection.

Menstrual reproductive disorder is a term that can be used to refer to the broad range of conditions related to the menstrual cycle.

Ovarian cysts are usually non-cancerous fluid filled sacs that frequently disappear on their own.

Pain below the umbilicus, in the lower part of the abdomen and between the hip bones is referred to as pelvic pain.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common disorder among young women of reproductive age where the ovaries produce more than the normal amount of male hormones.

PMS refers to a group of uncomfortable symptoms or painful cramps that girls commonly experience just before or during their monthly period.

Puberty is that time when a child is changed into an adult. As children reach the age of adolescence and puberty, a variety of concerns can arise for both boys and girls as their bodies mature sexually. In girls, these concerns usually take the form of problems with their menstrual cycle.

A septate uterus is a congenital anomaly of the uterus where a wall of tissue runs down the middle, dividing the uterine cavity into two.

Any infection that is passed from one person to another through sexual contact is known as a sexually transmitted disease.

Trichomoniasis is a bacterial infection that is transmitted sexually. Both men and women can acquire the disease, but it usually only causes symptoms in women.

The vulva refers to the soft folds of skin on the outside of the vagina. When these become inflamed or irritated, this is known as vulvitis.

Candidiasis is the scientific term for an infection caused by the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans. When it overgrows it can cause an infection of the skin, vagina, stomach, urinary tract or mouth with a variety of symptoms.