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Book Review Indian Pediatrics 2005; 42:98-99 |
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Rudolph’s Pediatrics |
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This authentic encyclopedia on child health and disease after traveling for more than 100 years spread over 19th, 20th and 21st centuries under various names with 20 changes in the original manuscript is presented as 21st Edition. It is spread over 27 chapters written with the help of 34 associate editors and 495 authors under the supervision and able guidance of two editors and three coeditors. To start with, primary care Pediatrician has been given the role of Health Supervisor on child health and disease in the field of growth and development, screening, counseling and anticipatory guidance and immunization. The most critical periods of life-neonatal and adolescent, have been adequately detailed out in terms of not only in their normal maintenance but diseases also. The developmental-behavioral Pediatrics and rehabilitation of a child with disability-therapy services and anticipatory guidance, are described under the headings of fundamental concepts of child development, brain development and behavior, common functional concerns, the continuum from developmental variation to disorder and major psychological disorders. The integrities of the issues involved in the medical management of an acutely ill infant and child and complex decisions in Pediatrics law, ethics and care near the end of life are well illustrated. A separate chapter on Contemporary Diagnostic Techniques dealing with molecular diagnosis, biochemical diagnosis of IEM and diagnostic imaging along with their interpretation is unique addition to a text-book of Pediatrics. Metabolic disorders with clinical and biochemical approaches and Clinical genetics and Dysmorphology with chromosomal disorders, malformations and developmental disabilities have been given due importance. Allergy and Immunology and Rheumatology meet the basic requirements of a Pediatrician. The infectious diseases have been given due justice by detailed description of antibacterial therapy, use of clinical microbiology laboratory, approach to fever, sepsis and individual bacterial, rickettsial, viral, mycotic and parasitic diseases. The systemic Pediatrics, spread over eleven chapters contains all the essential information a Pediatrician can wish to have. Though nutritional requirements in general and specific terms along with nutritional supplements are adequately described in Gastroenterology and Nutrition chapter, a little more description of nutritional assessment including deficiency states is desirable. The chapters dealing with The Liver and bile ducts, Blood and Blood-forming tissues and Oncology deal with corresponding anatomy, physiology and disease states adequately. In kidney and urinary tract diseases, usually difficult to underst and fluid electrolytes and acid-base disorders have been made very easy to understand. An exhaustive coverage has been provided in circulatory system, which deals with embryology, diagnostic tools (ECG, Echocardiography, nuclear medicine, Radio-logy, cardiac catheterization), con-genital and acquired heart disease including pediatric heart transplantation; however a more detailed description of Rheumatic fever and Rheumatic heart disease is desirable. The Respiratory system, Endocrine system and Central nervous system contain all the essential information. Lastly, but very importantly, Pediatric Orthopedics and the skin fulfill the gap present in the knowledge of most of the Pediatricians. The chapters on the regions of ear, nose, oropharynx and larynx, The teeth and oral cavity and the eyes complete the knowledge upto brim of the supervisor of the Child Health and Disease. The exhaustive index spreading over 212 pages deserves applause for its accuracy and size. It is a herculean task to look for any shortcomings in the present treatise. However, a few modifications may make this book more reader friendly. Dividing this hard bound heavy book (6.0 kg) into two volumes may make it more easy to handle. The insertion of color plates may be put at corresponding places of text description with more color photographs. Some more appendices of clinical relevance may also be added. Ajay Kumar,
First Editon 2003; Pages 122; Price: Not mentioned. Immunization is the best cost effective measure of child health survival. In our country immunization is given by government, private practitioners and NGOs. There is no such good book to provide knowledge and skill covering all aspects of problem in different sectors. The book has described all the problems both in rural and urban areas and their solutions. Author has tried to cover all the aspects like natural history, dose of vaccines, vaccine acceptance, dimension, exposure of doctors to newer vaccine, cause of vaccine failure and role of media in those cases, basic conception of immunization and immune response, and role of adjuvant. The author has included a new chapter in the name of vaccine administration where he discussed the method of keeping records and its importance. He has dealt with all the available vaccine and brief clinical features of diseases, which will help general practitioners. He has beautifully discussed the Cool House, its all practical aspects and how to maintain it in power failure. He has also mentioned the names of all the available vaccines of different pharmaceutical houses with their different packaging systems. Thus it is a unique book but needs correction in future edition like the references that should be mentioned and the dose of immunoglobulins, both of human and equine origin are to be mentioned. Some clarification is required, like higher induration of Mantoux after BCG and dose of ARV of 0.1 mL subcutaneous; otherwise such under dose of ARV will cause problem in our country where PEM is very common. Nabendu Chaudhuri,
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