The Epidemiology of Childhood Disorders

This book gathers the research efforts of the last quarter century in pediatric epidemiology under a single cover for the first time. It draws on the experience of an international group of pediatric epidemiologists, all of whom are world authorities in their fields. In a consistent format they discuss biological considerations, patterns of occurrence, risk factors, and the impact of interventions for each type of disorder. The disorders reviewed include not only the old morbidity of childhood such as infections, birth defects, asthma, and cerebral palsy, but also the new morbidity: emotional problems, intentional and non-intentional injuries, and suicide. These reviews are grouped in five parts: perinatal disorders, infectious disorders, mental and behavioral disorders, injuries and violence, and chronic disorders. This book is aimed at a wide audience: pediatricians, epidemiologists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, health administrators, and those in maternal and child health care. One reason it succeeds is that the contributors have the personal expertise and background to enable them to cross the disciplinary lines between pediatrics and epidemiology.