The Paediatric Handbook evolved  from the 1960s as a management guide intended for in-house use by medical officers 
at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, a 
leading clinical and training centre for paediatric 
medicine in Australia. This new eighth edition is 
the fruit of the tireless efforts and contributions 
of its staff team. It was developed from evidence-
based practice and longstanding clinical experience 
as a succinct and relevant guide to those who 
care medically for children from infancy through 
adolescence. This new edition has been updated 

from the last (2003) edition and is available both in 
print and PDA version online.

The current edition contains new and revised 
chapters aligned with the hospital clinical practice 
guidelines. It comprises a table of contents with a 
list of contributors, editorial committee, forward, 
preface and health problems divided into seven 
parts followed by appendices and finally the 
index. The different Parts are: Emergencies, with 
up-to-date guidelines and algorithms regarding 
resuscitation; Procedures and Pain Management; 
Fluids and Nutrition; Child Public Health; 
Development; Psychosocial Problems and, lastly, 
important paediatric conditions in Medicine and 
Surgery. Each of the Parts has from 2 to 20 chapters. 
There are four appendices: Growth Charts; 
Pharmacopoeia; Antimicrobial guidelines and 
Formulae. A Resuscitation Guide and Australian 
immunization schedule are also included on the 
front and back pages for easy reference.

New topics for this edition include sleep 
problems, continence, slow weight gain (failure 
to thrive), obesity, continuous SC insulin infusion 
pumps, cystic fibrosis and illicit drug poisoning. 
Chapters on renal conditions, pain management, 
management of stroke, immigrant health and the 
immunisation schedule have been extensively 
revised. Each chapter provides useful web links 
to assist the reader with further references. 
The illustrations, diagnostic and management 
algorithms greatly enhance the accessibility of 
the information. The Handbook would be further 
enhanced by including a chapter on history taking 
and physical examination in children. In addition, 
a darker font would minimise strain on the eyes 
and make for easier and more rapid reading. 

كتاب طب األطفال اليدوي
امل�ؤلف�ن: كيت ت�م�ش�ن، دين تي ، مايكل مارك

book review

Paediatric Handbook
Editors: Kate Thomson, Dean Tey, Michael Marks

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 8th Edition, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-405-7400-8

orders: www3.interscience.wiley.com

SQU Med J, April 2010, Vol. 10, Iss. 1, pp. 152-153, Epub. 17th Apr 10
Submitted - 3rd Feb 10



Kate Thomson, Dean Tey and Michael Marks

Book Review | 153

The Paediatric Handbook, with its concise 
descriptions, is a useful source of quick revision 
for medical students and paediatric residents.  
Practising general physicians and busy nurses 
will also find it a ready reference tool for clinical 
management and fast decisions making at the 
point of care. Being comprehensive, it is easy 
to use, thus providing a practical guide to the 
diagnosis and management of common and serious 
health problems in children. It also complements 
and extends information in the clinical practice 
guidelines. The book will have a wide appeal as 
a comprehensive and clear guide to managing 
common and serious disorders of childhood. To 
conclude, this is an excellent handbook which 
serves the needs of all health professionals involved 

in the day-to-day care of paediatric patients. It 
emphasises the community-based approach to the 
practical management of children’s problems and 
paediatric pharmacopoeia as well as covering the 
current significant advances in paediatric practice. 

 
 
r e v i e w e r

Zakiya Al-Lamki
Department of Child Health 
College of Medicine & Health Sciences 
Sultan Qaboos University 
Muscat, Oman 
Email: zakiya@squ.edu.om