Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

childhood 1
The time between birth until adult-
hood.
2
The time from infancy to the onset of
puberty. During childhood, the potential of a unique
human person must be nurtured by parents or par-
ent figures.
childhood disintegrative disorder
One of the
pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) charac-
terized by apparently normal development for at
least the first 2 years after birth, as manifested by the
presence of age-appropriate verbal and nonverbal
communication, social relationships, play, and
adaptive behavior. Children with this disorder dis-
play significant loss of previously acquired skills
(before age 10 years). This loss may affect expres-
sive or receptive language, social skills or adaptive
behavior, bowel or bladder control, play, or motor
skills. Childhood disintegrative disorder also
involves impairment in social interaction and com-
munication, often with the development of repetitive
stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and
activities, including motor stereotypes and manner-
isms. The loss of previously acquired skills distin-
guishes childhood disintegrative disorder from
autism, another PDD. See also 
autism; develop-
mental disorder.
childhood schizophrenia
See 
schizophrenia,
childhood.
children’s immunizations
Vaccinations given
to children. In the US, it is currently recommended
that all children receive vaccination against the fol-
lowing unless the child has special circumstances,
chickenpox immunization
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such as a compromised immune system or a neuro-
logical disorder:
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
(whooping cough), as separate vaccina-
tions or in combination as DPT
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB)
• Hepatitis B
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (German
measles), as separate vaccinations or in
combination as MMR
• Pneumococcal infections
• Poliovirus
• Tetanus (lockjaw)
• Varicella zoster virus (chickenpox)