Reliable Websites for Health Information

Below is a collection of vetted and reliable websites to gather health information. Some have general health information and others are more specialized about a particular condition, treatment, or topic. Clicking on these links will take you out of the Lurie Children’s website and open a new tab.

General Consumer Health Websites

Medline Plus | medlineplus.gov

  • The best “first stop” for consumer health information from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health.
  • Includes a medical encyclopedia, videos, information on drugs and supplements, links to health organizations and associations, health topics and clinical trials, and access to the database PubMed to find medical literature.
  • Includes a page specifically designed for children to use.
  • Also available en Español and other languages.

National Library of Medicine | ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

  • International database of journals covering medicine, dentistry, nursing, allied health, and veterinary science.
  • Use this resource to find scholarly journal articles on medical topics.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | cdc.gov

  • Website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an organization that seeks to promote health and prevent disease and other health threats through research, promotion of healthy behaviors and environments, and advocacy for sound public health policies.
  • The website can be used as a resource for a variety of health and safety topics along with current outbreaks and current health events.

    • Topics may include information about diseases and conditions, healthy living, emergency preparedness, violence and safety, environmental health, workplace safety and health, travelers’ health, data and statistics including morbidity and mortality, and much more.

  • Also available en Español and other languages.

Mayo Clinic: Patient Care and Health Information | mayoclinic.org/patient-care-and-health-information

  • Trusted source of medical information including guides on hundreds of diseases and conditions, possible causes for symptoms, information on drugs and supplements, tests and procedures, and healthy living.

Merck Manuals: Consumer Version | merckmanuals.com/home

  • Includes the Merck Manual Home Health Handbook (written in everyday language, provided for free). 
  • Explains disorders, who is likely to get them, their symptoms, how they're diagnosed, how they might be prevented, and how they can be treated; also provides information about prognosis.

Network of the National Library of Medicine | nnlm.gov/guides

  • Includes links to a data glossary, resources for caregivers of kids in grades K-12, information on various diseases, among other resources.

Testing.com | www.testing.com

  • A resource for the public on clinical lab testing, provided by clinical professionals.

  • Includes information about various types of tests, how lab tests work, and additional resources on the various tests and what they do. Some resources include a general overview of the test results.

Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality | ahrq.gov

  • Clinical information and data on quality and patient safety topics.

  • Resources and information range from specific clinical conditions and diseases to subjects like doctor-patient communication, transfers of care, and health literacy.

  • Topics are available en Español.


Websites for Pediatric & Family Health

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) | aap.org

  • AAP is the premier professional association for pediatricians.

  • Their website also offers consumers extensive information and resources on children’s physical, mental, and social health.

FamilyDoctor.org | familydoctor.org

  • This website is supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

  • They provide health information for the whole family – from newborns to seniors. It includes sections on specific diseases and conditions, health and wellness tools, pregnancy, as well as immunizations and other ways to manage your health.

MCH Library: The Maternal & Child Health Library at Georgetown University | mchlibrary.info

  • This digital library includes resource guides on a variety of topics related to maternal and child health.

  • Topics include breastfeeding, child development, dating violence resources for adolescents, autism spectrum disorders, and nutrition, among others.


Disease/Condition Specific Websites

AIDS/HIV

HIVinfo | hivinfo.nih.gov/

  • This website is administered by the NIH.

  • They offer information about HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and research including a search tool for clinical trials and information about AIDS drugs and other HIV/AIDS health topics.

Allergies/Infectious Diseases

National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases | niaid.nih.gov

  • This website includes scientific resources for allergic, immunologic, and infectious diseases, along with links to clinical trials networks, and current news and events. 

Cancer

National Cancer Institute: Childhood Cancers | https://www.cancer.gov/types/childhood-cancers

  • Resources from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide information on cancer treatment, prevention, causes, testing and clinical trials, along with links to many other resources.
  • Also available en Español.

OncoLink | oncolink.org

  • A website created and supported by the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Resources include information about cancer types, cancer treatment, risk and prevention, cancer drugs, support and coping with cancer, clinical trials, and links to cancer news.

Deaf-Blindness

National Center on Deaf-Blindness | nationaldb.org

  • Resources to learn about deaf-blindness and help support their educational needs and development.

  • Topics are available en Español.

Disabilities

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities | parentcenterhub.org/

  • Website includes information on various disabilities in babies, toddlers, and children; state and national resources; research; and a special section for families and communities.
  • Also available en Español.

Genetic Conditions

Medline Plus: Genetics | medlineplus.gov/genetics/

  • Information about genetic conditions and the effects of genetic variations on human health.

Mental Health

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | samhsa.gov

  • A U.S. Department of Health and Human services site, featuring resources on substance abuse and mental health.

  • Resources include information on substance abuse or mental health treatment and prevention, family guidance and support, and online publications.

  • Also available en Español and other languages.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) | aacap.org

  • The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s website has a section devoted to supporting family and children.  

  • It includes resources for finding a psychiatrist, a resource center and online library, and a “Facts for Families” information hub to learn more about issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.

  • Select resources available en Español.

Rare Disorders

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) | rarediseases.org

  • This database outlines important information on uncommon diseases that other sites may not have.

  • They also have an index of related patient organizations.


Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov | clinicaltrials.gov

  • A database of human clinical studies worldwide.

  • You can search by keywords, topics, or using a map

CenterWatch — Clinical Trials Listing Service | centerwatch.com

  • Information about clinical research and trials for both clinical research professionals and patients.

  • Listings of thousands of active clinical trials and recently approved drug therapies.


Alternative & Integrative Medicine

Cleveland Clinic: Integrative Medicine | https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21683-integrative-medicine

  • This website discusses what integrative medicine is as well as the risks and benefits, types of integrative medicine, and additional considerations.

NIH National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health | nccih.nih.gov/

  • Access information on various conditions and holistic health practices, research, clinical trials, news and events about complementary and alternative medicine.

  • Provided by the NIH.

ConsumerLab.com | consumerlab.com

  • Independent tests of quality and content of herbal, vitamin, and mineral supplements.

American Botanical Council | herbalgram.org

  • Source for information on herbal medicine.

Drugs & Drug Interactions

LactMed (Drugs and Lactation Database) | ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/

  • An NIH database of drugs and dietary supplements that may affect breastfeeding. Therapeutic alternatives are provided, where appropriate.
  • A mobile LactMed app is available through the Apple and Android app stores

DailyMed | dailymed.nlm.nih.gov

  • A resource of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

  • Provides high-quality information about marketed drugs including FDA labels.

Drugs.com: Drug Information Online | drugs.com/pill_identification.html 

  • Pill Identification Wizard (Pill Finder) can help consumers match the imprint, size, or color of a pill and connect to the detailed description of the drug in the website’s database.

Center for Drug Evaluation, U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) | fda.gov/about-fda/fda-organization/center-drug-evaluation-and-research-cder 

  • This FDA site includes drug information sheets, links to drug-information web sites, and a section on pediatric drug development.
  • Consumers can report problems with drugs directly to the FDA via this site

Office of Dietary Supplements | ods.od.nih.gov

  • An overview of dietary supplements, areas of research, and clinical trials.
  • Website includes comprehensive fact sheets about many supplements.
  • Provided by the NIH

Household Health, Environmental Health & Poison Control

Haz-Map | haz-map.com

  • Information on occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals and occupational diseases.

  • Includes symptoms and findings if you believe you’ve come in contact with a hazardous chemical.

Medline Plus: Household Products Database | medlineplus.gov/householdproducts.html 

  • Health and safety information on household products.

  • Includes how to use less toxins, information on any recalls, what to do in an emergency, and more. 

  • Select resources available en Español.

American Association of Poison Control Centers | aapcc.org/centers/ 

  • List’s the contact information for each state’s poison control center(s).

  • Also has information on news and alerts along with helpful prevention measures.

National Consumer Products Safety Commission | cpsc.gov

  • Links to recalls of toys and other household products.

  • You can sign up for email alerts on safety of consumer products.

  • This website also has safety education along with regulatory and legal information.

  • Resources available en Español and other languages.