It has been a pleasant experience to review this book brought out by the Infectious Disease Chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. This has a Forward by Dr. Raju C. Shah and contains 48 selected chapters on important topics of infectious diseases, rational antibiotic therapy and newer vaccines. Most authors are well known pediatricians and faculty members of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Chapter's conferences. They have done justice to their articles by discussing practical approach and providing their own observations, experiences and Indian flavour. The chapters chosen are well known current topics with special emphasis on topics like Tuberculosis (5 chapters), HIV (7 chapters), Antibiotic therapy (4 chapters) and Vaccines (8 chapters).

The flip side of the book is lack of summary or key points at the end of each chapter. If one does not have the time or inclination to read a particular chapter, at least one can go through the key points. As expected in a multi author book, it is not unexpected to find duplication, repetition and some lack of consistency (most chapters are very well written while a few are without any references.)

The IAP Task Force has brought out guidelines in the management of some common infectious diseases like malaria, typhoid and dengue fever, under the auspices of Pediatric Infectious Disease Chapter. It would have been better to incorporate these consensus statements in the above mentioned articles. Notwithstanding these deficiencies, overall this is a lucidly readable book which should be useful to all the pediatricians and postgraduate students but is best suited for practicing pediatricians. I am sure the dynamic Dr. Tapan Ghosh, Chief Editor of this book will rectify these deficiencies and add more topics in future editions to make it wholesome and complete book on pediatric infectious diseases with further addition of Indian flavor.