Clinical Evaluation of Newborns, Infants and Children

The strength of the book is that it asks its readers to acquire the communication skills. Elicitation of the history, which is the most important part of the patient workup, had been

dealt with in good measures. It would have completed the description if prior treatment history had also been included. Dietary history lacks importance of breastfeeding and the

nutritive value of breast milk has not been highlighted in the description of complementary feeding. The description of the general physical examination and growth and development of the child have been written with a good blend of years of experience and a simple illustrative approach. The limitation is that only CDC-2000 growth tables and charts have been used.

It would have been better to include WHO growth charts as well. The examination of the newborn baby seems sufficient for an undergraduate medical and nursing student to differentiate a sick neonate. The systemic examination part is adequately written, and students will find it easy to elicit many signs and to describe abnormalities. The author has worked hard to reproduce better-quality clinical photographs liberally to help students learn the clinical situation which they may not have a chance to see as a clinical case during ward posting. Pedigree charting, reading of ECG, and skiagrams of chest are good additions. Overall, the book gives a pleasant reading and can be recommended to the undergraduate students.

Salient Features

• Provides a very good perspective in clinical assessment of newborns, infants, and children
• The contributors are eminent faculties with sufficient teaching experience from the most prestigious medical colleges of Kerala providing simplified student-friendly clinical approach
• Latest growth charts (WHO and other accepted ones) and tables are provided The initial four chapters deal with the various aspects of communication for medical students which will enable them to interact with patients and their parents, and face examinations and interviews confidently
• All chapters are well-elaborated with self-explamatory clinical photographs, systematic discussion and descriptive tables and clinical case scenarios
• Compact and handy with attractive, uniquely informative cover with different clinical scenarios