The 21st edition of Rudolph's Pediatrics continues a tradition of evolving and adapting to changes in pediatric medicine. Originally published in 1897 as Diseases of Infancy and Childhood, written by L. Emmett Holt, the editors have consistently strived not only to provide descriptions of the clinical features and treatment of diseases of childhood but also to review the biologic principles underlying these processes. Achieving this goal is increasingly challenging during this era due to the extraordinary explosion of knowledge in all areas of pediatrics that has been spurred by our increased understanding of the molecular basis of disease and the rapid emergence of new technologies for diagnosis and treatment.

 

In an effort to adapt to these changes, the twenty-first edition of Rudolph's Pediatrics has been extensively revised. I have been aided in this endeavor by the previous editor, my father, Abraham M. Rudolph. The editorial expertise and perspective has been further expanded by the addition of three new co-editors, Margaret K. Hostetter, George Lister, and Norman J. Siegel. New associate editors participated in updating and reorganizing twenty of the twenty-seven chapters. A new chapter edited by Norman Siegel provides a concise overview of contemporary diagnostic techniques utilized across pediatric specialties. Other chapters were reorganized to align with emerging specialties in pediatric medicine. The chapter on toxicology and accidents has been replaced by a chapter on emergency medicine and critical care to provide more focused discussions on the management of the acutely ill child. The chapter on ethical issues in pediatrics has been expanded to include a review of terminal and palliative care and coping with the dying child. A new section on rehabilitation and care of the disabled child provides guidance on the management of this expanding population of children. The previous chapter on genetic disorders and birth defects has been expanded into two new chapters, one that discusses metabolic disorders and the other on genetics and dysmorphology.

 

In the previous edition, we introduced sections focused on the approach to diagnosis and management of various symptom complexes. These were often presented in algorithmic form. Because this was well received, most chapters in this edition now include sections on the approach to evaluation of relevant symptom presentations. In order to maintain the textbook as a single volume, we often needed to limit the discussion of various topics. Hopefully, the numerous changes in this edition continue the tradition of providing a balanced, comprehensive resource to aid health professionals in the care of infants and children.