Signs and Symptoms in Pediatrics, 2nd Edition Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9781610028202 ISBN-10: 1610028201 Copyright: 2026 Edition: 2nd Editor: Adam, Henry M., Foy, Jane Meschan, Doody's Expert Review    Score: 85 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Shelly Gruenbacher,  MD  (Gove County Medical Center) Description This book is a comprehensive review of common disorders encountered in the care of pediatric patient populations. It is helpfully organized alphabetically by signs or symptoms that a child may present with, either individually or in the context of their family or care-giver structure. This edition updates the 2015 edition by including more social and emotional health topics. Purpose This book's purpose is to be used as a symptom-based resource in a busy outpatient pediatric or family medicine practice. Being able to look quickly look up a presenting sign or symptom alphabetically is immensely helpful. Information can be efficiently gleaned by skimming the appropriate bulleted sections and more in-depth reading is provided for when time allows. The ability to obtain quick guidance on testing, potential diagnoses, treatment, and next steps all in one place is extremely helpful to busy clinicians. Audience The book's audience is busy practitioners who provide care for pediatric patients. It will be especially beneficial to medical students and residents in pediatric and family medicine subspecialties. The American Academy of Pediatrics publishes the book with multiple contributing authors who specialize in the care of children. In addition, pertinent subspecialists in pediatrics reviewed and critiqued the content, making it a reliable source of accurate information. Features This book covers the most common presenting complaints and physical findings that clinicians taking care of pediatric patients and their families will come across. In doing so, the book also addresses many of the common and uncommon diagnoses that providers will need to be able to evaluate and treat in a pediatric population, particularly in an out-patient setting. The book addresses mental health complaints just as thoroughly as physical health complaints. Family and care-giver dynamics and how these play into children's health also receive adequate time. The writing is concise and organized. Chapters are alphabetical by presenting signs or symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, anxiety, back pain, cough, disruptive behavior, rash). Each chapter includes headings of history, physical examination, differential diagnoses, lab, imaging, procedures if applicable, treatment, and complications. Symptoms with a broad differential like chest pain include additional tables to further break down diagnoses based on specific evaluation findings (i.e., "abnormal EKG" with myocarditis, or "elevated lipase" with pancreatitis). Particularly helpful to primary care physicians in an outpatient setting or in an emergency room, are the sections labeled "when to refer" and "when to admit." An online or app version of this book would be helpful, especially during a busy day or when moving between inpatient and outpatient settings. Assessment This is a high-quality medical textbook that is arranged alphabetically by presenting signs or symptoms. This format provides a straightforward way for busy medical students, residents or practicing clinicians to obtain information to guide them toward a diagnosis, treatment, and "next steps" based on a chief complaint. This updated edition includes mental and emotional health complaints and includes family and caregiver dynamics as well. These topics are essential in the care of today's pediatric population. I recommend this book to any medical students, residents, new physicians, or advanced practice practitioners who care for children and need a quick reference for pediatric illnesses and conditions based on presenting signs and symptoms. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 8 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 8 1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 4 1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 4 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 4 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 4 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 3 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book N/A 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 8 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10 ©2026 Doody Enterprises, Inc.