5
those that a general internist might expect to encounter but also problems associ-
ated with pregnancy and delivery; common and serious disorders of neonates, in-
fants, and children; and many special situations. Disorders are organized mainly
according to the organ systems primarily affected, on the basis of their etiology (as
with most of the infectious diseases and disorders due to physical agents), or on
the basis of disciplines (e.g., gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, genetics, psychia-
try). In addition, THE MANUAL contains information for special circumstances,
such as radiation reactions and injuries, problems encountered in deep-sea diving,
and dental emergencies. The entire book is updated for each new edition, and new
subjects are added, such as discussions of genetic evaluation and counseling, hu-
man immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children, sports medicine, hospice
medicine, cross-cultural issues in medicine, anabolic steroid abuse, and special
considerations in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on infants and chil-
dren. This edition has 140 more pages of text (approximately 5%) than the preced-
ing edition. We therefore urge you to check the Index whenever you need
information, even on unusual subjects or those not commonly found in other texts.
A completely disease-oriented compendium, however, would have serious limita-
tions. Since patients usually present with complaints or concerns that must be me-
ticulously described, sorted, and deciphered, many chapters are devoted to
discussions of symptoms and signs and of how to elicit the historical and physical
data required for diagnosis. Common clinical procedures and laboratory tests used
as diagnostic and management aids are described, with emphasis on their indica-
tions, contraindications, and possible complications. New and sophisticated labo-
ratory and technologic procedures are also described, with comments on their
uses, interpretations, and limitations.
Current therapy is presented for each disorder and supplemented with a separate
section on clinical pharmacology that describes general principles, new advances,
Foreword
