By

• AH Suryakantha MD DHA, Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, JJM Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India

Public Health Issues such as Global Warming, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness and Swine Flu have been included in this edition. Other than correcting the mistakes, many diagrams have been modified and many color pictures have been incorporated. Many topics have been updated. To mention a few, Revised Policy of RNTCP, MDR-TB, Epidemiology of Cancer Cervix, Partograph, Vaccine against AIDS, RCH-II, etc. The chapter on Health Planning and Management has been rewritten and simplified. References have been mentioned at the end of each chapter and the list of Index has also been expanded. This book is teacher-friendly because they may appreciate the presentation of the subject matter exhaustively and clearly, having tentacles attached to various other branches of medicine such as obstetrics, pediatrics, dermatology, psychiatry and general medicine, in order to conform to the changing profile of community medicine. Key features: (i) The elegant appearance of the cover page reflects the important National and International Public Health Issues. (ii) The book aptly describes the Essence of Community Medicine including the changing public health scenario of our country. (iii) The contents are arranged sequentially and systematically. (iv) There is a balanced distribution of different subject areas with equal importance. (v) Illustrations are given in the form of graphs, tables, flow charts, diagrams and color pictures for better understanding. (vi) Reading gives a continuity of thought with fluency without any doubts or confusion. (vii) The unique style of lucid language makes the reading a pleasurable experience. (viii) It covers both conventional and advanced public health issues with vigor and enthusiasm. (ix) There has been an integration of epidemiological aspects, pathology, pathogenesis, clinical spectrum and management of communicable diseases. (x) It dwells on the preventive measures through the approaches of different levels of prevention. (xi) The relevant and detail information on any topic of public health concern is found in one place. (xii) Stress has been laid on the applied aspects of the subject. (xiii) It encompasses an elaborate exposition and thorough updating of latest developments on important issues concerning environmental health, nutritional health, occupational health, reproductive and child health, demography, family planning, epidemiology, primary health care, national health programs, health organizations, national rural health mission (NRHM) and social medicine. (xiv) Statistics is uniquely simplified with multiple solved exercises. (xv) It makes use of real life field situations of health care delivery system. (xvi) Modifications are noticeable in chapters of Hospital Waste Management, Health Planning and Management, RCH-II, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Social Medicine and HIV/AIDS. (xvii) Newer concepts like kangaroo mother care, syndromic approach, use of partograph, vaccine against HIV and cancer cervix are all included. (xviii) Newer challenges like Bioterrorism, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Disaster Management, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Bird Flu, Swine Flu, Global Warming, Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP), Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) are also included. (xix) Thus the book is not only student-friendly, teacher-friendly and examiner-friendly but also a useful guide to health administrators, policy makers and health workers.