Manual of Childhood Infections: The Blue Book 2011

Now in its third edition, and endorsed by both the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the European Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, the Manual of Childhood Infections (known by its readers as The Blue Book) is a simple-to-use, evidence-based, and practical handbook on how to recognise, investigate and manage both common and rare infectious diseases in children and babies. The handbook is divided into two sections, the first of which is syndrome-based and covers all the key diagnosis and management features of common childhood infections, such as sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia. The second section lists specific organisms, and provides all the key points in the epidemiology, clinical features, and management for all the key infections. Each chapter includes key references for further reading and suggestions for future research. Packed with helpful tips and practical guidance, including lists of alternative diagnoses and useful tables, the handbook also features a neonatal and paediatric formulary of around 100 of the commonest used antimicrobials based on the BNF for Children, but presented in a simple easy-to-use weight based dosing regimen. Common side effects and cautions are also included. The book is aimed at both junior trainees looking after ill children and more senior colleagues who want to check their management plans, and is written for both a UK and European audience, reflecting the range of clinical practice across Europe, while being clear where the evidence base is strongest.