Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics

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 man-made 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.