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Diseases and Disorders
As health (and ill health) are much in the public mind, this set provides overview articles on 46 health issues (infertility, ear disorders, trauma, etc.) and basic descriptions of 94 infectious diseases, 139 noninfectious diseases and disorders, and 26 mental disorders. As stated in the foreword, “although the focus in planning this collection of articles was on subjects of interest to young readers, the information provided here is valuable to users of any age.” The signed entries were prepared by a lengthy list of health care professionals. The articles are color coded into the above four types. The noninfectious disorders range from Adrenal disorders to Whiplash the infections from Acne to Yellow fever and the mental disorders from Alcohol-related disorders to Tics. A 43-page section is devoted to cancers of all the common types, each with a separate entry. The finding aids include a table of contents and thematic content lists. Each volume has a bibliography of resources including books, articles, and Web sites a glossary and an index. Volume 3 also has subject indexes, a comprehensive index, and a list of health hotlines. A typical entry starts with a summary statement, followed by descriptions and discussions of causes, symptoms, prevention, diagnosis, and treatments. Information is summarized in “Key Facts” boxes, and there are liberal see also references. Most of the illustrations are color photographs or drawings. The presentation of concise factual information in accessible language and in appropriate introductory amounts is a strength of this set. It is also a good starting point to further study through use of its resources lists. Recommended for high-school, public, and academic libraries supporting student health programs, the set is also potentially useful in a medical library’s patient education section. For those who need more detail, the five-volume Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (2006) is a good choice.