Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment. Sixteenth edition. Edited by William W. Hay, Jr, Anthony R. Hayward, Myron Levin, and Judith M. Sondheimer. 1415 pp. New York, McGraw Hill, 2003. $59.95. ISBN 0-07-121229-9.
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* Leland Davis

Textbooks of pediatrics come in a variety of formats to meet differing needs. This series, Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment, falls somewhere between a full-sized standard textbook and a pocket-sized handbook. Weight, size, and depth of coverage are what differentiate these options. This soft-cover single volume measures 7.5 × 9 inches and although it is too big for a pocket, it could easily be carried in a brief case or backpack. It is a full 10 pounds less than one of the leading full-sized pediatric textbooks, has about half as many pages, and has only one fifth as many contributing authors.

This 16th edition in this series (companion books are available for medicine, surgery, and obstetrics) retain the same format as earlier versions, which is a structure built primarily around the basic body systems and major disciplines (eg, infection, allergy, diabetes, etc.). New to this edition is a chapter on information technology in pediatrics, which provides helpful electronic sources of information on practice guidelines, journal web sites, CME resources, and evidence-based medicine databases, along with advice on how to use these resources. Other notable chapters deal with substance abuse, eating disorders, emergencies (including bioterrorism), critical care, and rehabilitation and sports medicine. Finally, there are sections on drug therapy (although not a formulary of pediatric drugs and dosages), fluid therapy, and normal laboratory values for children.

In condensing the information contained in this book, the emphasis has been on clinical relevance, with concise editing rather than a sacrifice of a comprehensive coverage of topics. The essence of each section is a general discussion of the topic, followed by a description of clinical and laboratory findings, and then advice on treatment. Discussions are succinct (sometimes dogmatic), but are followed by updated references for each subsection, making access to additional information easy to locate. In some sections, useful web sites are listed. Many helpful charts and tables further help to condense information for ease of access. Not only are the standard childhood growth and development grids and tables included, but some rather esoteric topics as well, such as a table listing the hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies. There are a limited number of black and white photographs.

The authors and editors have done a commendable job of attaining their goal of producing an easy-to-use and portable textbook. This, along with an attractive price, would make this an excellent choice for students and house officers. In addition, the concise, authoritative, and up-to-date content makes this a useful reference for all clinicians that deal with the diagnosis and treatment of children.