The objective of this book is to provide the reader with the physiological basis to understand clinical problems in pediatrics. The book, written for the practicing pediatrician and pediatric resident, is designed to be used in conjunction with standard clinical textbooks.
The 14 chapters are written by different authors, all authorities in their respective fields. The subjects include immunology, genetics, metabolism, nutrition, perinatal physiology, blood and respiration, heart and circulation, gut and digestion, kidney, fluid and electrolytes, growth, neuro-physiology, and psychology. Each chapter deals with the physiology of the area in question, with emphasis on aspects peculiar to the young and developing child. A limited discussion of selected pediatric diseases considers their particular pathophysiology.
In the section on metabolism, the descriptions of the various types of glycogen storage disease and of phenylketonuria are incomplete, and there is no discussion of the continuous nightly drip feedings for patients with glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency.