Skip to main content

Search
Kids Health

Word! Anesthesia

|

Anesthesia

( En español: Anestesia )

Say: ah-nus- thee -zhuh

Anesthesia is medicine that doctors and nurses give to make people feel comfortable when they're having surgery , stitches , or other things that might be painful. There are different types of anesthesia: general and local. General anesthesia is cool because it helps you fall asleep for a little bit so you don't feel any pain while the doctors are fixing something. A doctor can give you general anesthesia with a shot or by letting you breathe a special kind of air. The medicine wears off and you wake up a while later. Local anesthesia doesn't make you fall asleep, but it numbs the area so you won't feel pain while you get stitches or minor surgery to remove something like a wart.

Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

© 1995-2009 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.

Should your child see a doctor?

Find out by selecting your child’s symptom or health condition in the list below:

Spring 2013: Good Growing Newsletter

In This Issue

  • You Are a Key Player on Your Child’s Healthcare Team
  • Bad Weather? Bring the Action Indoors!
  • Coping with a Crying Baby

Download Spring 2013 (PDF)

Videos

Stories from the Heart: A Mother’s Day Tribute 2013 0:57:30Expand
4.27.13

Watch heartwarming stories about mothers and patients and learn more about the amazing work done by the doctors and nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Presented by Safeway. Consider making a donation to Seattle Children’s in honor of a woman you know, love or admire at Seattlechildrens.org/mothersday. Aired Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 7 p.m. on KOMO.

Play Video
What Is IBD, Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis? 0:03:53Expand
4.26.13

In this video series, we address questions commonly asked by parents of children with IBD.

Play Video
How to Help Your Child Adjust to School After a Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis 0:06:38Expand
4.26.13

In this video series, we address questions commonly asked by parents of children with IBD.

Play Video