The Complete Directory for Pediatric Disorders, 2004/05

Designed primarily for families and caregivers, this directory provides contact information for support groups, state and national agencies and research centers as well as annotated bibliographies of related literature for both children and adults. The entries cover 209 disorders, including nine that were not covered in the previous edition: oppositional defiant disorder; learning disabilities; Lyme disease; hypoplastic left heart syndrome; arrhythmias; milk protein allergy/lactose intolerance; intraventricular hemorrhage; nephrotic syndrome; and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Each entry includes an overview of symptoms, cause, and treatment in addition to the contact information and resource listings. Pages 979-1295 provide a list of 1,400 general resources including those which deal with multi-disorder conditions; an overview of the human body; a glossary; and guidelines for obtaining information about physicians, hospitals, drugs and medical devices, and current clinical trials. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Duane Superneau, MD(Genetic Services of Louisiana, LLC)
Description:This directory provides a brief, easy to read description of over 200 different pediatric disorders as well as contact information for support groups and resources to aid those affected by these disorders. In addition, there are sections focused on general resources, the human body systems, and guidelines for obtaining additional information (e.g. Web sites). A brief glossary of medical terms is also included. Several improvements and more listings are provided since the second edition was published in 2002.
Purpose:This book continues to serve as a comprehensive resource for "providing current, understandable medical information, resources, and support services on pediatric disorders." It remains appropriate to have a book like this and it will find much use. Of course, to be complete is a challenging task and there are some common, and perhaps not so common, disorders that are not included. Nonetheless, the editorial team has clearly made efforts to include topics and resources of most usefulness.
Audience:The book is intended for anyone seeking information about a particular disorder or the resources to help them know more about the disorder and provide support services and care for a child. The book can also be used by any healthcare professional who wishes to provide families with information and resources on a particular disorder. This type of reference should be widely available -- in general and medical libraries, pediatricians' offices, and anywhere children receive care and service.
Features:The over 200 pediatric disorders are listed alphabetically with a brief and understandable description of each. Following the description there is a listing of national and local support groups and resources that pertain to the disorder including books, magazines, pamphlets, research centers, and Web sites. There are sections that provide brief descriptions of human body systems, a brief glossary of medical terms, and resources for obtaining additional information. The directory is very comprehensive, but it is not complete. There are no sections on visual impairment or blindness comparable to the listing for hearing impairment and deafness. In the section on mental retardation there is a corrected address for "The Arc" of the United States but this organization is still listed as "ARC" rather than "The Arc", the correct name for this organization. In this same section, the American Association on Mental Retardation is listed only by its Web site and one must look elsewhere for the mailing address and phone numbers. For some disorders, the section on research centers focuses on medical clinics that treat a particular disorder rather than a research program. The indexes are comprehensive and provide several avenues to obtain information for anyone seeking it.
Assessment:This is a valuable resource for anyone wishing to provide parents and caregivers with an understandable description of any of the disorders included, and information about support groups and available resources. The medical editor acknowledges the availability of information through the Internet and other sources but there remains a need for a book of this type. The value of this directory as a resource far exceeds any real or perceived deficiency that one can identify (e.g., lack of a topic or missed listing). It is a difficult task for the editor and staff to keep the directory current but they do a remarkable job. This directory will continue to serve its intended audience very well.