The A to Z of Infectious Diseases (Facts on File Library of Health & Living) - Softcover

Turkington, Carol; Ashby, Bonnie Lee, M.d.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0816063982 ISBN 13: 9780816063987

Publisher: Checkmark Books, 2007

Synopsis

An important new guide to understanding infectious diseases.

Praise for the hardcover edition:
"...recommended..." Midwest Book Review

In the past 25 years, more than 30 new germs affecting humans have emerged onto the medical scene, most of them rising from animals. New diseases like the avian flu, Ebola, SARS, and weaponized viruses such as anthrax and smallpox pose a growing danger to the world. With the threat of infectious diseases remaining constant, it is essential to have clear and concise information on this topic.

The A to Z of Infectious Diseases provides more than 600 up-to-date entries covering the latest research, new treatments and vaccines, and rising diseases such as mad cow disease. Appendixes include drugs used to treat infectious diseases, tips for home disinfection, and lists of helpful organizations and publications, making this the ultimate resource for knowledge about infectious diseases.

Topics include:

• Anthrax
• Child care centers and infectious diseases
• Encephalitis
• Enterotoxin
• Foodborne infections
• Gulf War syndrome
• Influenza (flu)
• Marburg virus
• Turberculosis
• West Nile virus.

About this title

About the Author

Carol Turkington is a medical writer with a degree in journalism and more than 25 years of professional experience, including three years as a medical writer/editor at Duke University Medical Center/Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her books for Facts On File and Checkmark Books include The A to Z of Breast Cancer and The A to Z of Autism Spectrum Disorders. She lives in Pennsylvania. Bonnie Lee Ashby, M.D., is medical director of the Quadrangle Life Care Community in Haverford, PA. She is also a practitioner of internal medicine at Great Valley Health in Bryn Mawr and senior attending physician of the Department of Medicine at Bryn Mawr Hospital, where she chaired the Committee on Infectious Diseases for almost 20 years.

From Booklist

The recent advent of the SARs virus proves the validity of a statement in the introduction to this title, which says "new viruses may still appear." Although SARs is too recent to be included among the infectious diseases in this second edition (updating a volume that was published in 1998), others that have emerged in the last five years, including West Nile virus, are here. The alphabetically arranged volume covers diseases, treatment options, and relevant organizations. Comprehensive information is provided for each disease and includes its cause, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. Major diseases that have had an impact on the world's population (tuberculosis, AIDs) are covered in depth and include a history. This feature makes the volume useful to researchers and students.

New to this edition are articles on bioterrorism risks and the West Nile virus. Other entries have been updated to include new information. Charts and information boxes, including several on food safety, appear throughout the book. Appendixes include a list of drugs used to treat infectious diseases and a guide to home disinfection. There is also a bibliography and a topical list of organizations.

The readable text and the clear organization of information make this a useful title for secondary-school and public libraries. It will also be useful in consumer health and patient education collections. RBB
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Edition details

• Publisher: Checkmark Books
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0816063982
• ISBN 13: 9780816063987
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 412