This is an A-Z reference guide to over 5000 medical terms including symptoms, diseases, drugs and treatments. Since the appearance of the first edition in 1990, significant developments have occured in many areas of medicine. For example, far more internal operations can now be performed by minimally invasive keyhole surgery. Genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, are now understood in far greater depth than before. There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of screening tests for the early detection of diseases.

Written in association with The Royal College of General Practitioners, this encyclopedia will aid in the diagnosis of all common ailments from the common cold to chronic fatigue syndrome. Chapters provide explanations of particular anatomical systems and the illnesses that can affect them.

This clear, rigorously researched and updated encyclopedia, will help all the family diagnose a vast range of ailments.