Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics
Library Journal Review
This handsomely produced and authoritatively written encyclopedia was published in association with the Center for Children's Health Media at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. Almost 300 diseases and conditions are included (with an equal number of color photographs, charts, and illustrations), covering such topics as cleft palate, kuru, obsessive-compulsive disorder, slipped disk, and typhoid fever. Reasons for the inclusion or omission of a topic are not given. Each entry, ranging in length from one to eight pages, contains information on natural history, causes, cures, and prevention, when appropriate. Lengthier entries include sidebars consisting of bibliographies, See references, definitions of unusual words, suggested keywords for searching the Internet and print sources, and pronunciation guides. Highlights of the history of medicine are scattered throughout, and a number of lavishly illustrated parasitic diseases are presented. There is a comprehensive index and a brief but current bibliography. Children and teenagers are obviously the intended audience, though any adult would find this book valuable. By comparison, the 17-volume Encyclopedia of Family Health (LJ 3/15/98) is twice the cost, and though it contains 800 entries and is also aimed at a general audience, it is not as scientifically based. Any school or public library that can afford Human Diseases and Conditions could not go wrong in purchasing it.--Martha E. Stone, Massachusetts General Hosp. Lib., Boston (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-While there is a plethora of print and electronic sources available on medical topics, this set was written with young adults in mind. The entries cover a wide range of topics from acne to stress, breast cancer to tuberculosis-diseases and conditions that this age group is personally interested in or frequently assigned. Less common ailments such as Marfan syndrome, Chagas' disease, and Ebola virus are also covered. The articles are easy to read; some, such as the one on diabetes, are quite lengthy; others briefly cover causes, symptoms, and treatment. Sidebars provide additional facts and definitions. Most of the entries mention at least one other resource, and many note several books and/or organizations and pertinent Internet addresses. Lots of color photographs, illustrations, and diagrams enhance the text. A bibliography and a comprehensive index are found in the third volume. A good starting point for research papers and equally useful to answer quick questions.- Jo-Anne Weinberg, Greenburgh Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
The human body and its ailments are fascinating subjects for most people. Much of the literature in this area is very technical and difficult for lay readers to understand. Human Diseases and Conditions, although edited with the assistance of a group of physicians, is written for readers from middle-school to adult level. The set has information on 294 diseases and conditions. An introduction provides a very basic overview of physiology, the health-care system, and medical research. The alphabetical entries that follow are two to six pages long. They include a definition of the disease or condition, an explanation of what it does to the body, and information on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Many articles also have short scenarios describing people who have had or currently live with the illness. Pictures of Stephen Hawking, Magic Johnson, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee in the entries on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, AIDS, and asthma, respectively, and references to Michael J. Fox, Muhammad Ali, and Janet Reno in the article on Parkinson's disease demonstrate that serious illness does not have to interfere with life. Articles on chronic diseases such as diabetes and cystic fibrosis explain what it is like to live with the illnesses. All articles have brief bibliographies and referral lists. There are ample cross-references and a comprehensive index to lead users to the information they need. A bibliography of recent medical textbooks appears in volume three. Color photographs, charts, and illustrations augment the text. Sidebars in the margins provide definitions and keywords for searching other reference sources and the Internet. Fact boxes offer historical information and literary quotations about diseases. Although Human Diseases and Conditions is an attractive encyclopedia that is easy to use, it provides very basic information that is readily available in many other sources. It is also rather expensive. Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide [RBB D 1 99] and American College of Physicians Complete Home Medical Guide [RBB Ja 1 & 15 00] provide more information in a single volume at a fraction of the price. The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine [RBB Mr 1 99] is a five-volume set that covers this material in greater depth. Though designated for middle-school through adult readers, Human Diseases and Disorders seems most appropriate for the younger levels of the audience.
