Caring for Kids The Complete Guide to Children's Health

Introduction Every parent wants to succeed at parenting. In fact, of the many things that people strive to do well, caring for their children pretty well tops the list. This book has been written with the belief that parents will always do the right thing for their children -- if only they know what that right thing is! In the pages that follow, you will find the information you need to better understand and deal with the health problems that your children can face. Bookstore shelves are crammed with hundreds of volumes that offer parenting advice. What's so special about this book? Lots. First, Caring for Kids: The Complete Guide to Children's Health has been written in partnership with The Hospital for Sick Children. The hospital is more than an excellent health sciences center; it's an institution that's also world renowned. "Sick Kids," as the hospital is frequently and affectionately called, is one of the world's best known health care facilities. It is regarded as a place where children will receive the highest level of care -- regardless of background or means -- simply because this is what our children deserve. Sick Kids serves not only today's generation of youngsters; its research and teaching programs are dedicated to serving future generations as well. Each year, the faculty at Sick Kids continues to train tomorrow's caregivers while producing literally hundreds of research papers in order to better understand and deal with the problems children may face. We have recruited an extraordinary group of contributors to help write Caring for Kids. These authors are all experienced pediatricians on the staff of The Hospital for Sick Children. They also serve as members of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada. Several of them conduct busy pediatric practices and, therefore, appreciate both the theoretical and practical aspects of children's problems. The pediatricians whom we have selected to write this guide are all respected for their knowledge of both the art and the science of caring for children and their health. Collectively, these contributing authors have distinguished themselves by winning numerous teaching, citizenship and clinical awards. We think you will notice that they understand kids, relate to parents and know about the problems of childhood. Another very important aspect of this guide is its content. Wherever possible, the information and advice that we have provided is based on the best available scientific evidence. This approach is sometimes called evidence-based pediatrics and, where possible, we have followed this philosophy. Most of the illnesses that kids must deal with are minor and self-limiting. Other problems can be much more serious and complex and capable of permanently altering family life. Yet, regardless of the nature or scale of any given challenge, the management of these should always remain thoughtful, compassionate and informed. The first chapter of this book deals with some of the more important symptoms that parents must deal with. It will inform you what needs to be considered and how best to approach that particular problem. The rest of the chapters are divided by the appropriate body system or age group and describe the nature of many specific conditions that affect children. They seek to answer the following questions: What is the condition? What can parents normally expect to happen? How should the problem be treated? The final chapter provides a reference guide to help cope with some of the common accidents and emergencies that can occur in childhood. We hope that you will find this book useful. Few things are more gratifying than meeting a child's needs. If this guide helps you, even slightly, to better serve the family you love, then our efforts will have been worthwhile. - Jeremy Friedman, MB.CHB, ERCP(C) and Norman R. Saunders MD, FRCP(C) ContributoSaunders, Norman is the author of 'Caring for Kids The Complete Guide to Children's Health' with ISBN 9781554071609 and ISBN 1554071607.