Wheezing Disorders in the Pre-School Child: Pathogenesis and Management

by Fernando D. Martinez, Simon Godfrey

Overview

The infant with persistent or recurrent wheeze during the first 2 years of life poses a particularly difficult diagnostic dilemma, which can be a source of considerable anxiety to both physicians and parents. Without neglecting basic science, Wheezing Disorders in the Preschool Child presents information in a logical and readable fashion that is particularly useful to the practicing clinicians. Simon Godfrey and Fernando Martinez, two internationally respected opinion leaders in the field of respiratory disorders in childhood, provide a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management of paediatric asthma.

Focusing on practical issues, the authors expose the lack of existing data on the etiology and pathophysiology of the disease process, outline the optimal approach to diagnosis and management, and discuss the importance of early wheezing as a predictor of the future development of chronic respiratory symptoms in later life. They discuss a simple, logical, and safe approach to management bases on trial and error, that ensures that patients do not continue to receive treatment that is ineffective. The book blends the latest information with practical experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781841841557
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/04/2003
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Fernando D. Martinez and Simon Godfrey

Table of Contents

Introduction. Epidemiology of Wheezing in Infants and Preschool Children. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection and Wheezing. Immunology of Wheezing Disorders in Infants and Preschool Children. Clinical Features of the Wheezy Infant. Lung Function in the Wheezy Infant and Preschool Child. The Wheezy Infant and Preschool Child: Differential Diagnosis. Management of Wheezing in Infants and Preschool Children. Proposals for the Future.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Michael P. Kiernan, M.D.(Tulane University School of Medicine)
Description: This review of wheezing in preschool children describes the etiology and pathophysiology of wheezing and provides a suggested clinical approach for managing the problem.
Purpose: The authors wish to clarify this rather bewildering problem. The approach they choose to accomplish this is a systematic review of the existing data, and equally importantly, pointing out the areas where data is lacking. They then bring the reader to an understanding of their suggested clinical approach to the preschool child who wheezes. These are very worthy objectives which are well met by this concise book.
Audience: The book is intended for clinicians who deal with patients in the preschool age group. However, it is written in a manner that should be understood well by students, nurses and other practitioners. The authors include enough detail and references to make the work useful to researchers and academicians interested in the clinical problem, too. The two authors are world renowned authorities. Their writing and teaching experience is extensive and shows in this easy to read yet highly useful book.
Features: The authors break the subject into eight logical chapters. The book starts with the epidemiology of the problem, proceeds through a review of underlying pathophysiology and then discusses the typical and atypical clinical findings. The differential diagnosis is discussed and then a suggested management strategy is provided. The book concludes with a chapter suggesting areas and topics that need further clinical and bench research. Each chapter is cowritten by both authors, so there is a consistent tone and style throughout the book. The writing is concise without being abrupt or superficial — words are not wasted here. The text is supplemented by clear diagrams, graphs, charts, figures, and tables which amplify but do not overly reiterate the text material.
Assessment: This book is extremely useful. It can be picked up and put down without losing the train of thought. Each chapter can stand alone as a lesson or review of the topic it covers. I felt I had just attended a series of 30- to 40-minute CME offerings which provided just what I wanted without smothering me with a lot of unnecessary gloss or extraneous material. I plan to use the book in my own teaching efforts for students, house staff, and clinicians. It is one of the best reviews of the topic I have ever read.

Doody's Review Service

"...successfully melds a state of the art review of the subject with practical guidance to aid clinicians dealing with the wheezing infant. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to all my colleagues." - Pediatric Allergy & Immunology

From the Publisher