Filled with short, succinct chapters written by experts in the field of Adolescent Medicine, this handbook covers the major health issues that practicing clinicians regularly encounter in the care of teens and young adults. From menstrual concerns and sexually transmitted infections, anxiety disorders and depression, to eating disorders and common sports medicine concerns, this book is an ideal reference guide for busy clinical practices. Students, residents, and established clinicians alike will find the OC Adolescent PearlsOCO section of each chapter particularly useful.

During the past 10 years, it has become clear that adolescence is a crucial time for the acquisition of behaviours that will favour good overall health. Indeed, the more adolescents who are able to make favourable decisions regarding their health, the more effective a prevention policy we will have for a number of diseases and illnesses (cardiovascular, psychiatric, cancer, etc.). The specialist's goal is to have the young person assume more responsibility for his or her health. Such a goal should take into account a number of factors specific to this age group. Accordingly, adolescents should not be thought of simply as miniature adults. If disease is defined in the adult as a loss of good health, it is defined as a problem in the development of good health during adolescence. At this age, the state of one's health can be attributed, in part, to various adolescent stresses such as family relationships, depressive experiences, and behaviours that include experimentation with drugs. A health care professional must be able to take all of these factors into account. This book gives a voice to the various specialists who encourage this particular way of thinking when approaching adolescents and their health.

Adolescence is a time of major transition, however, health care services in the United States today are not designed to help young people develop healthy routines, behaviors, and relationships that they can carry into their adult lives. While most adolescents at this stage of life are thriving, many of them have difficulty gaining access to necessary services; other engage in risky behaviors that can jeopardize their health during these formative years and also contribute to poor health outcomes in adulthood. Missed opportunities for disease prevention and health promotion are two major problematic features of our nation's health services system for adolescents. Recognizing that health care providers play an important role in fostering healthy behaviors among adolescents, Adolescent Health Services examines the health status of adolescents and reviews the separate and uncoordinated programs and services delivered in multiple public and private health care settings. The book provides guidance to administrators in public and private health care agencies, health care workers, guidance counselors, parents, school administrators, and policy makers on investing in, strengthening, and improving an integrated health system for adolescents.

Adolescenceâ€"beginning with the onset of puberty and ending in the mid-20sâ€"is a critical period of development during which key areas of the brain mature and develop. These changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity mark adolescence as a period of opportunity to discover new vistas, to form relationships with peers and adults, and to explore one's developing identity. It is also a period of resilience that can ameliorate childhood setbacks and set the stage for a thriving trajectory over the life course. Because adolescents comprise nearly one-fourth of the entire U.S. population, the nation needs policies and practices that will better leverage these developmental opportunities to harness the promise of adolescenceâ€"rather than focusing myopically on containing its risks. This report examines the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development and outlines how this knowledge can be applied, both to promote adolescent well-being, resilience, and development, and to rectify structural barriers and inequalities in opportunity, enabling all adolescents to flourish.

This concise, evidence-based resource covers all of today’s need-to-know information to quickly and effectively diagnose and manage common adolescent conditions...in an exceptionally user-friendly format. Because it’s so compact, clinically oriented, and easy to read, Adolescent Medicine: The Requisites in Pediatrics is an ideal study tool as well as a convenient reference for practice. Includes detailed discussions on special health issues, common medical problems, sexual and reproductive health, behavioral problems, and the transition to adult health care to help you gain a better understanding of the unique needs of the adolescent patient. Features a logical, consistent chapter format that helps you find the guidance you need quickly. Presents abundant tables, differential diagnoses, lab values/radiologic studies, treatment/therapy recommendations, and guidance on when to refer to a specialist equipping you for every clinical challenge. Discusses controversies concerning the standard of care with the aid of thought-provoking clinical scenarios to help you to determine the best course of action in difficult situations. Provides highlighted boxes that emphasize relevant case studies, key points of each section, and other important information making you aware of considerations that impact today’s practice. Uses a wealth of illustrations so you can see details more clearly.

Adolescence is one of the most fascinating and complex transitions in the human life span. Its breathtaking pace of growth and change is second only to that of infancy. Over the last two decades, the research base in the field of adolescence has had its own growth spurt. New studies have provided fresh insights while theoretical assumptions have changed and matured. This summary of an important 1998 workshop reviews key findings and addresses the most pressing research challenges.

More children born today will survive to adulthood than at any time in history. It is now time to emphasize health and development in middle childhood and adolescence--developmental phases that are critical to health in adulthood and the next generation. Child and Adolescent Health and Development explores the benefits that accrue from sustained and targeted interventions across the first two decades of life. The volume outlines the investment case for effective, costed, and scalable interventions for low-resource settings, emphasizing the cross-sectoral role of education. This evidence base can guide policy makers in prioritizing actions to promote survival, health, cognition, and physical growth throughout childhood and adolescence.