Clinical Evaluation of Newborns, Infants and Children S Sushma Bai New Delhi: JP Brothers Medical Publishers 2009; Pages 211, Price. Rs. 495.00

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 work up, had been dealt in good measures. It would have completed the description if prior treatment history had also been included. Dietary history lacks importance of breastfeeding and 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 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. Author has worked hard to reproduce better quality clinical photographs liberally to help student 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.

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Suraj Gupta and Karoly Horvath Delhi: Peepee Publishers and Distributors (P) Ltd; Pages 764, Price: Rs. 795.00

This is a comprehensive, very well written and edited piece of work. The preface has stressed the important fact that Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology are important subspecialities of Pediatrics and the approach to disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract and liver in children requires to be suitably modified as compared to adults. The practical application of clinical nutrition in medical and surgical disorders has not received appropriate attention in India. The fact that the importance of nutritional support in the management of gastrointestinal and liver disorders in children needs to be underscored has received appropriate mention.

The textbook is conveniently divided into four sections - Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition, and Investigations. The book is reader-friendly and useful to practicing pediatricians, in addition to medical graduates who are interested in specializing in these subjects.

Essential Pediatrics, Seventh Edition. OP Ghai, VK Paul and A Bagga New Delhi: CBS Publishers; Pages 768, Price: Rs. 695.00

Ever since inception, this book has firmly established itself as a standard text for undergraduates. The silver jubilee edition (seventh edition) bears ample testimony for this statement. Over these 25 years of existence, some editors have changed and now even the creator of the book has left for his heavenly abode. However, the quality and popularity of the book has been improving steadily.

This edition highlights extensive revision in most chapters to effectively meet the current and updated needs of the target audience. While ample justice has been done to the existing priorities like nutrition and infectious diseases, emerging areas such as genetics, adolescence, intensive care and care of children with chronic systemic diseases have also received due attention. The current public health perspectives in relation to child health have not been ignored. The quality of production has also substantially improved. The book is recommended for undergraduates. practicing pediatricians, and for postgraduates, particularly DCH students.