Practical Pediatric Endocrinology. Authors: Anurag Bajpai,
Jyoti Sharma and P.S.N. Menon. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P)
Ltd., EMCA House, 23/23 B Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110 002,
India, 1st Edition 2003, pages 168, Price Rs. 150/-.
Practical Pediatric Endocrinology – a handbook is
the first of its kind published from India. Pediatric Endocrinology
has interested every Pediatric practitioner because of some of the
common issues related to child’s normal growth and development and
metabolism. The standard text books are exhaustive and voluminous for
a busy practitioner to consult. Thus, there is a necessity, requiring
a quick reference guide to deal with common pediatric endocrine
issues, to sharpen the clinical acumen and skills.
This book is a handy and reliable guide, for all
those who need practical information, when they are confronted with
problems of physical development of children and their hormonal
problems. The book has been divided into eight sections i.e.,
Growth and Pituitary, Thyroid, Calcium metabolism, Pancrease, Adrenal
disorders, sexual develop-ment and differentiation, electrolyte and
acid-base miscellaneous disorders include obesity and endocrine
hypertension. Each topic is covered as etiology, clinical approach,
laboratorty evaluation and management. The book is characterized by
its brevity and clarity, imparts practical and systematic approach
with the help of algorithims for common pediatric endocrine problems.
The physicians have to work under constraints of poor resources and
sometimes a lack of access to the modern diagnostic. Thus, a proper
judgement while asking for an expensive diagnostic laboratory
evaluation is justified. This quck reference book guides as to what
investigations should be asked for when. Each topic is followed by
references suggested for further reading. The last section of
appendices includes reference values, dynamic endocrine tests etc.
However, addition of more growth/reference charts and figures related
to these topics would have been more useful.
The authors have succeeded in keeping the size of
the book to reasonable limits while laying adequate emphasis on
practical clinical aspects.
The book not only provides clarity in clinical
approach for undergraduates but also guides the residents and general
pediatricians physicians as a ready reference towards an approach to
endocrine disorders.
Sangita Yadav,
Professor,
Department of Pediatrics,
Maulana Azad Medical College,
New Delhi 110 002, India.
