Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 2-Volume Set, 20e

Book Preface

The 20th edition of Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics continues in its tradition of being an essential resource for pediatricians as they diagnose and treat the infants, children, and adolescents of the 21st century. The 20th edition has been thoroughly revised, updated, and edited to keep up with the growing data accumulated from basic, clinical, and population-based research. The promise that translational medicine will improve the lives of all children is greater than ever. Knowledge of human development, behavior, and diseases from the molecular to sociologic levels is increasing at fantastic rates, leading to greater understanding of health and illness in children and substantial improvements in health quality for those who have access to health care. These exciting scientific advances also provide hope to effectively address prevention and treatment of new and emerging diseases threatening children and their families. The field of pediatrics encompasses advocacy for all children throughout the world and must address societal inequalities of important resources required for normal development, as well as protection from natural and manmade disasters. Unfortunately, many children throughout the world have not benefited from the significant advances in the prevention and treatment of health-related problems, primarily because of a lack of political will and misplaced priorities. For our increasing knowledge to benefit all children and youth, medical advances and good clinical practice must always be coupled with effective advocacy. This new edition of Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics attempts to provide the essential information that practitioners, house staff, medical students, and other care providers involved in pediatric health care throughout the world need to understand to effectively address the enormous range of biologic, psychologic, and social problems that our children and youth may face. Our goal is to be comprehensive yet concise and reader friendly, embracing both the new advances in clinical science and the time-honored art of pediatric practice. The 20th edition is reorganized and revised from the previous edition. There are many additions of new diseases and new chapters, as well as  substantial expansion or significant modification of others. In addition many more tables, photographs, imaging studies, and illustrative figures, as well as up-to-date references, have been added. Although, to an ill child and his or her family and physician, even the rarest disorder is of central importance, all health problems cannot possibly be covered with the same degree of detail in one general textbook of pediatrics. Thus, leading articles and subspecialty texts are referenced and should be consulted when more information is desired. The outstanding value of the 20th edition of the textbook is due to its expert and authoritative contributors. We are all indebted to these dedicated authors for their hard work, knowledge, thoughtfulness, and good judgment. Our sincere appreciation also goes to Kate Dimock and Jennifer Shreiner at Elsevier and to Carolyn Redman at the Pediatric Department of the Medical College of Wisconsin. In addition, we thank Barbara Ruggeri for her excellent library science skills and for keeping us up to date with the literature. We have all worked hard to produce an edition that will be helpful to those who provide care for children and youth and to those desiring to know more about children’s health worldwide. In this edition we have had informal assistance from many faculty and house staff of the departments of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Wayne State University School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and University of Rochester School of Medicine. The help of these individuals and of the many practicing pediatricians from around the world who have taken the time to offer thoughtful feedback and suggestions is always greatly appreciated and helpful. Last and certainly not least, we especially wish to thank our families for their patience and understanding, without which this textbook would not have been possible.

Robert M. Kliegman, MD Bonita F. Stanton, MD Joseph W. St Geme III, MD Nina F. Schor, MD, PhD