The Guest Editors have assembled expert authors to cover the full clinical span of the topic autism and autism spectrum disorders. An historical perspective of the evolution of the disorder opens the issue. Next, comprehensive coverage is given to an article on the definitions, diagnostic criteria, and clinical features of autism spectrum disorders. Other articles in the issue cover the relevant topics like epidemiology, genetic syndromes and genetic testing, early diagnosis and diagnostic evaluation, and neuroimaging and neurochemistry of autism. Authors also present information on tsocial skills for the autistic child, behavioral interventions, and transitioning the autistic child into adulthood, to name a few. This issue should be very well received by pediatricians.

Psychodermatology is a relatively new field in evolution and thus, there is a comparative paucity of information in general. However, when it comes to children and adolescents there is a complete vacuum of information as no other book has aimed to specifically address the psychodermatological issues facing this particular population. For assessment, diagnosis, comprehensive treatment of children with psychodermatologic conditions and establishing a relationship between skin and psyche, there is a lack of clear and relevant clinical information about these complex disorders. The complexity of these disorders is related to lack of understanding in genetic, embryonic, physiologic, neuroimmunologic, neurocutaneous, stress-related neuromodulation, and psychosomatic interconnections. This book presents a clinically relevant approach to the management of psychodermatologic issues encountered in normal practice. Various classifications and major categories that are discussed include psychophysiologic disorders, psychiatric conditions with dermatologic manifestations, dermatologic disorders predisposing to psychiatric disorders, systemic diseases with psychodermatological manifestations, and special issues in management of psychocutaneous disorders in children and adolescents.

Primary care clinicians are called on to care for adolescents in a time with increasing pharmacologic agents that are available in the management of these patients. The emphasis in this book is on the current pharmacologic treatment of common medical disorders in adolescents. Selected topics of practical relevance in adolescent medicine are covered. The goal of this book is to provide a succinct and practical guide specifically written for practicing physicians and allied health professionals who work with adolescents.

Primary care clinicians are called on to care for adolescents in a time with increasing pharmacologic agents that are available in the management of these patients. The emphasis in this book is on the current pharmacologic treatment of common medical disorders in adolescents. Selected topics of practical relevance in adolescent medicine are covered. The goal of this book is to provide a succinct and practical guide specifically written for practicing physicians and allied health professionals who work with adolescents.

The abuse of drugs and chemicals has become a problematic public health dilemma for the world's population and one that must be dealt with by parents, societies, clinicians, researchers, and even countries in the world. This book discusses the complex neurobiology that underlies drug addiction and reveals how these illicit chemicals disrupt central nervous system neurotransmission involving such neurotransmitters as serotonin, dopamine, and others. This manual reviews current understanding in drug interactions with neurotransmitter systems, neuroimmune signaling, current research on reward circuitry, and current medications used to treat drug addiction. It also discusses related topics such as drug addiction in females, co-morbid conditions, drug addiction in minority populations, prenatal drug exposure and others. The book covers new drugs of the 21st century and discusses such controversial topics as legalization of drug use. It also provides internet resources, treatment facilities by state, and parent support organizations. The importance of prevention of drug abuse is a key theme of the book.

Increasingly more and more children with developmental disabilities survive into adulthood. Pediatricians and other clinicians are called upon to care for an increasing number of children with developmental disabilities in their practice and thus there is a need for a practical guide specifically written for paediatricians and primary care clinicians that addresses major concepts of neurodevelopmental pediatrics. In the United States, the specialty training leading to a conjoint board certification by the American Board of Pediatrics and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, requires a total of 6 years of training (2 years of pediatrics, 1 year of neurology, 18 months of child neurology, 18 months of neurodevelopmental disabilities). As of December 2006, in the US, there were 241 pediatricians and 55 child neurologists certified in the subspecialty of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Thus most of the children with developmental disabilities are seen by pediatricians and therefore it is important for these pediatricians to be well informed of common issues in the field. The 60,000 or so pediatricians in the United States (and hundreds more in other countries) are the main target audience for a practical book on neurodevelopmental pediatrics.

Pediatric and Adolescent Psychopharmacology is reviewed in this issue of Pediatric Clinics, guest edited by Drs. Dilip Patel, Donald Greydanus, and Cynthia Feucht. Authorities in the field have come together to pen articles on Therapy in the Age of Pharmacology: Point-Counterpoint, Principles of Pharmacology and Neurotransmission, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Pediatric Mental Health, Psychopharmacology of Anxiety Disorders, Psychopharmacologic Control of Aggression and Violence, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Psychopharmacology of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa, Psychopharmacology of Obesity, Psychopharmacology of Depression, Psychopharmacology of Pediatric Bipolar Disorders, Cognitive-Adaptive Disabilities, Psychopharmacology of Schizophrenia, Management of Psychotic States Induced by Medical Conditions, Substance Use and Abuse, Psychopharmacology of Tic Disorders, and Pharmacology of Sleep Disorders.

This issue of Pediatric Clinics, guest edited by Drs. Dilip Patel and Donald Greydanus, examines the topic of Adolescents and Sports. Authorities in the field have come together to pen articles on Pre-participation evaluation, Cardiovascular evaluation of young athletes, Medical conditions and sport participation, Management of the adolescent athlete with type 1 diabetes mellitus, Musculoskeletal conditions and sports participation, Stress fractures: Diagnosis and management, Computer-based neuropsychological evaluation of concussion, The female athlete, Doping: From drugs and supplements to genetics, Analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications in sports, Nutritional considerations for adolescent athletes, Resistance training guidelines for adolescents, Application of osteopathic manual medicine to treat sports injuries, and Physically and cognitively challenged athletes.

A large proportion of children and youth have mental health problems that follow different trajectories over time. Adolescence is a period in which latent mental problems emerge, with as many as one third of adolescents presenting with complaints significant enough to warrant a visit to the doctor. Since the mid-1950s, a considerable number of psychoactive medications have been developed, with primarily adults with mental health disorders being the main focus. Only a proportion of these drugs were subsequently studied in children and adolescents in well-designed, controlled trials with a sufficiently long-term follow-up. This means that the treatment decision of the prescribing physician carries a unique burden of personal responsibility. This book presents the psychopharmacologic agents that are available for children and adolescents, as well as the side effects, drug interactions, and the indicated monitoring parameters of these medications.

Current research indicates that up to ten percent of children suffer from mental health problems at some point before reaching adulthood. Complex diagnostic criteria and medication regimes can make these patients a challenge to manage. The chronic shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists has led to more and more cases being cared for by pediatricians and primary care practitioners. Patients may be on multiple medications of long duration, and reaching a decision to modify or cease treatment is often complicated.
Pediatric and Adolescent Psychopharmacology: A Practical Manual for Pediatricians is written for all non-psychiatrists who find themselves caring for children and teenagers with mental health disorders. It gives clear, expert guidance on the complexities of diagnosis of mental health disorders and provides practical, accessible advice on the complex treatment options available for many disorders. This text will be an invaluable resource for all clinicians who encounter these vulnerable patients.

Tropical medicine is a branch of medicine focusing on disorders usually found in subtropical and tropical areas of the world, while tropical paediatrics is a branch of tropical medicine focusing on children in these areas. The current process of global warming and the widespread issue of international travel are bringing these conditions to many places of the globe. This second revised and enlarged edition highlights selective concepts of tropical paediatrics that are of importance to clinicians caring for children and adolescents. It is dedicated to clinicians around the world who care for these precious patients growing up in remote corners of globe. It should always be remembered that sometimes these issues become important to developed corners of the world as well.

A variety of topics are presented in this book that seek to reflect on medical history before and after the golden age of the Medical Renaissance. These topics include newborn care, the story of adolescence, behavioral pediatrics, psychopharmacology, substance abuse, psychodermatology, the story of diabetes mellitus, specific organ systems that range from the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, kidney and the heart in pediatrics, and other motifs. Reflections on adolescence are provided based on societys classic disdain and envy of its youth seen throughout the ages of human life. In this book, the authors include a variety of scholars, who stood on the shoulders of giants and made exponential progress in medicine of their own. Throughout the centuries, from the Mesopotamian masters to present physicians, these giants advanced the field of medicine to represent what has been understood as the standard of current medical care, and perhaps we can learn what it will be like in the future. These esteemed experts learned from the past, made mistakes, exhibited amazing courage, and faced scientific and sometimes sacerdotal criticism. Their courage was astonishing, as many were confronted by minacious, inauspicious, portentous, and unpropitious attacks on their ethics and accomplishments. However, they persisted and were able to develop verifiable data that others could independently substantiate and sometimes improve upon for the benefit of all humans. This book celebrates their astounding, awe-inspiring achievements.

In the 19th century, a greater understanding of childrens rights was acknowledged, and in the 20th century, child abuse was discovered in 1962 after many years of turning a blind eye. The number of reported cases of child abuse worldwide has since exploded into a public health epidemic with a much higher incidence than better-funded diseases such as juvenile cancer. The evaluation of child abuse and neglect is complex, with many professionals and agencies involved to try and decrease these incidences. This can be one of the reasons why the field has not been able to attract appropriate resources for prevention, treatment, education and research. Child abuse must be looked upon as a major public health problem, and professionals must make the 21st century a century for the child. In this book, the authors have given a short review of the field.

About 29 million Americans (9.3% of the population) in 2012 had diabetes. Approximately 1.25 million American children and adults have type 1 diabetes, and almost all diabetes in children less than 10 years of age is type 1. About 208,000 people younger than 20 years (0.25 % of this age group) have been diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or type 2). Diabetes care requires a collaborative approach with multi-disciplinary professionals involved from the health, nursing, social and educational fields in order to provide optimal service to the child or adolescent and their family. Early diagnosis, treatment and monitoring can prevent or delay the long-term complications in various organs of the body, and regular care and service to this population is therefore essential. In this book, we provide a short overview of issues involved in diabetes care for children and adolescents.

A variety of topics are presented in this book that seek to reflect on medical history before and after the golden age of the Medical Renaissance. These topics include newborn care, the story of adolescence, behavioral pediatrics, psychopharmacology, substance abuse, psychodermatology, specific organ systems (the kidney and the heart in pediatrics), and other motifs. Reflections on adolescence are provided based on society's classic disdain and envy of its youth, which is seen throughout the ages of human life. In this book, we include a variety of scholars who stood on the shoulders of giants and made giant leaps in medicine of their own. In each century since the Medial Renaissance, these giants advanced the field of medicine into what we have as today's standard medical care, and perhaps we can learn what it will be like in the future. These esteemed experts learned from the past, made mistakes, exhibited amazing courage, and faced scientific -- and sometimes -- sacerdotal criticism. Their courage was amazing, as many were confronted with minacious, inauspicious, portentous, and unpropitious attacks against their ethics and accomplishments. However, they persisted and were able to develop verifiable data that others could independently substantiate and sometimes improve upon for the benefit of all humans.

Human sexuality is a complex phenomenon involving the interaction of biologic gender, core gender identity and gender role behavior. Successful completion of normal stages of sexual development is important for children and adolescents to allow for an optimal adult life. Controversies arise for clinicians as they work with their pediatric patients regarding health care sexuality issues. It is important that clinicians help these patients in an unbiased and neutral manner. As adults, these children and adolescents will function in a number of sexuality roles, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. In this book, the authors review many of these complex and critical issues that involve the fascinating development of human sexuality.

The current and future shortage of pediatric cardiologists necessitates information on the pediatric heart for primary care clinicians, as they care for the child and adolescent with cardiovascular dilemmas and disorders. In view of this shortage and the rapidly increasing knowledge in pediatric cardiology, as well as understanding indications for referral to pediatric cardiologists in the 21st century, au courant assiduous information aimed at primary care clinicians in these areas becomes increasingly important. The heart does not exist in isolation, but is involved in other aspects of the body; thus, hypertension that may involve renal pathophysiology and hyperlipidemia that involves various organ systems is also an important topic. Behavioral aspects of chronic disease, including renal disorders, should also be considered because of the importance and impact that renal (and chronic) disease has on children and adolescents. Certainly, seeking to stay current on basic principles of pediatric cardiology is important; these include fluid and electrolyte physiology, management of pediatric hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. In view of the importance of hypertension in children and adolescents concerning complications in all stages of life (i.e. renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and others), periodic ambulatory blood pressure monitoring by the primary care clinician (PCP) is an extremely important task. The current epidemic of obesity also heightens the importance of hypertension screening in the 21st century.

This book is designed to provide primary care clinicians with a practical guide to the significant problems that increasingly affect the emotional health of children and adolescents. This book is written in clear, concise language by experts in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, neurodevelopmental pediatrics, adolescent medicine, psychology, and child/adolescent psychiatry. We present a comprehensive coverage of normal and pathological behaviors based on principles of child and adolescent development. The editors are nationally and internationally known experts and educators in the normal and abnormal behavior of children and youth. With the information available in this book, clinicians who care for children and adolescents will be better equipped to meet the complex needs of this fascinating and ever-changing population.

This book summarises the state of cognoscibility with regard to normal new-born care that has accumulated over the past centuries, especially the 20th and now 21st century. This compendium is not an ersatz discussion of neonatology, but of the fascinating zone that involves the new-born in the normal new-born nursery. It is not a homogenous area and thus, some overlap is inevitable in such a compilation of data. The preface details historical concepts that have followed new-borns over the millennia of homo sapiens' existence, such as infanticide, breast feeding, swaddling, neonatal resuscitation, and principles of caring for new-borns. The mortality rate of new-borns has been reduced in many parts of the world in this century and we have learned much more about how to keep increasing numbers of new-borns alive, especially when health care providers and society collaborate in this important endeavour and emphasise known preventative principles. Current modern paediatric and perinatal treatments allow new-borns in the current 21st century America to have a start on an overall life expectancy of 78.5 years (up to 76 years in males and 80.9 years in females), if they receive meticulous medical care even if born into a penurious state. Such deserved care and inevitable ongoing medical discoveries will only lengthen these life trajectories.

Intellectual disability is characterised by deficits in cognitive and adaptive abilities that initially manifest before 18 years of age. The prevalence of intellectual disability is estimated to be between 1 and 3 out of every 100 individuals in the general population. Most individuals have mild intellectual disability and the cause is generally not identified. A small percentage of individuals have severe deficits and will need lifetime supports. The diagnosis of intellectual disability requires formal psychometric testing to assess the intelligence quotient and adaptive functioning. The management of individuals who have intellectual disability is based on providing general medical care, treatment of specific behavioral symptoms, early intervention, special education, and variable degrees of community based supports. In this book we present some current issues in intellectual and developmental disability.

The mortality rate of newborns has been reduced in many parts of the world and we have learned much about how to keep more newborns alive, especially when health care providers and society collaborate in this important endeavor and emphasize known preventative principles. We know that death of newborns causes emotional stress to the newborn's family as well as to the involved health caregivers. We are also learning about the historical rights of the fetus in modern society. Over the past 50 years, there has been an increasing focus of attention, research and resources on assuring the survival and long term outcome of infants who are born premature. As a result of advances in knowledge and technology, there has followed an increased likelihood for survival of even the smallest of premature infants. In this book, we present some of the health and social issues for children born into this world.

BEHAVIORAL PADIATRICS has been developed to provide the primary-care physician with a practical guide to early recognition of an intervention in the significant problems increasingly affecting the emotional health of our children and adolescents. The first part of the volume introduces general concepts of normal development, assessment, and treatment. Part two focuses on specific behavioral pediatric disorders, with particular attention to practical approaches to diagnosis, management, and referral.

"We have compiled this updated information for various health care professionals who are seeking to provide comprehensive health care for our children and adolescents-pediatricians, family medicine physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers, health educators and others involved in the care of children and adolescents.

" "Behavioral Pediatrics" is designed to provide the primary care clinician with a practical guide to early intervention in the significant problems that increasingly affect the emotional health of children and adolescents. Written in clear, concise language by experts in fields such as, child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, and adolescent medicine, Behavioral Pediatrics presents a comprehensive coverage of normal and pathological behaviors based on the principles of behavioral pediatrics.

Volume one introduces the reader to the general concepts in behavioral pediatrics: developmental issues, learning and behavioral issues, and sexuality. This first volume reviews specific problems which include the following:

.Sleep disorders
.Mental retardation
.Childhood and adolescent sexuality
.Common behavioral problems
.Learning disorders
.Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

"Behavioral Pediatrics" provides clinicians the tools they need to assist their pediatric patients. By focusing on the prevention of behavioral problems clinicians can greatly enhance the mental and physical health of their pediatric patients, contributing to the overall health of the family.

"Family doctors, pediatricians, nurses and other primary care providers function as sentinels in the community for much that is happening in our culture and function, to use a current phrase, as "first responders." This volume can be a key resource for "first responders." " -Glenn C. Davis, MD, Former Dean, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University

In the second volume of "Behavioral Pediatrics," primary care clinicians can build on their knowledge of basic child and adolescent development and behavior to assist them in their everyday practice. Volume two introduces the important concepts for the assessment and treatment of mental disorders, and special issues in behavioral pediatrics.

With experts from numerous disciplines, "Behavioral Pediatrics" tackles specific topics in each chapter, such as the following:

.Suicide and depression
.Anxiety disorders
.Schizophrenia
.Disruptive behavior disorders
.Eating disorders
.Autism spectrum disorders
.Abuse in the child and adolescent
.Substance use and abuse

With the information available in "Behavioral Pediatrics," primary care clinicians can strive to meet the complex needs of their pediatric patients by incorporating new and innovative techniques to achieve optimum health for the entire family.