Book R e v i e w I

Pediatrics (Ed) Satya Gupta; New Age International Limited, New Delhi 110002, pages : 725, Price: 350/-

The 3rd edi t ion of Pediatr ics edited by Dr. Satya Gupta , ex-professor and head of the D e p a r t m e n t of P e d i a t r i c s at the Mau lana A z a d Med ica l Col lege, N e w Delhi has a galaxy of eminent pediatricians as contributors. This obviously raises a lot of expectat ion from the book.

When a book is compiled to meet the requirements of both the under-graduate and post -graduate students, the editor has a difficult task of avoiding esoteric details and descr ipt ions while ensuring that all what is essential is given its due coverage.

Certain chapters in the book fulfill the expectat ions adequately. Gastroentestinal and hemato logy sys tems are written in a lucid style and more distructive in having incorporated the relevant recent advances. Nephro logy and tuberculosis are written wel l and re f lec t the exper ionce of the respective authors in their fields.

It wou ld have been desirable in the text book for under-graduates students the chapter on growth and development had rables for an th ropomet ry which a s tudent in p e d i a t r i c s w o u l d n e e d to consul t . Similarly, the section on vaccines in the chapter on prevent ive pediatrics merited a more de ta i led discuss ion, keeping in mind its health relevance.

Indian J Pediatr 1996; 63:650

However , the book provides us with a m i x e d fare. Ce r t a in q u e s t i o n a b l e s t a t e m e n t s h a v e b e e n k e p t in the discussion on Neonatal Cholestasis, there is no ment ion of the HIDA scan in the d i a g n o s t i c w o r k - u p . S t a t e m e n t s l ike "Cort rcost i roids should be t r ied in the treatment once a diagnosis of hepati t is is made since the patient experiences a sense of we l l be ing , a p a r t f r o m the antinflammatory activity of the d rug ...... " would alarm many a pediatrician.

The discussion on 'kala azar ' reads archaic. The dose of s o d i u m a n t e m o n y gluconate is different from any advisory b o d y on infections. Therapy wi th urea st ipamine is suggested. To the best of my knowledge , urea st ipamine has been in clinical use for more than 15-20 years. It is recommended that dogs and hamsters be e h u m i n a t e d for p r e v e n t a t i o n of 'Kala azar'.

The book has its quota of pr int ing and syntax errors-some of which are jarring e.g. the dose of mebendazole ment ioned.

The p r e s e n t a t i o n of the b o o k is pleasant, the printing of good quality. The black and white photographs at the end of the book are of good quality and reflect the rich clinical experience of the editor.

Dr. Yogesh Jain

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics,

AIIMS, New DethL