Previously published as: The Merck manual of medical information, Home ed.

Includes index.

Guide for readers -- Understanding medical terms -- 1: Fundamentals -- 1: Human body -- 2: Genetics -- 3: Making the most of health care -- 4: Prevention -- 5: Exercise and fitness -- 6: Rehabilitation -- 7: Death and dying -- 8: Legal and ethical issues -- 2: Drugs -- 9: Overview of drugs -- 10: Administration and kinetics of drugs -- 11: Drug dynamics -- 12: Factors affecting response to drugs -- 13: Adverse drug reactions -- 14: Adherence to drug treatment -- 15: Trade-name and generic drugs -- 16: Over-the-counter drugs -- 3: Digestive Disorders -- 17: Biology of the digestive system -- 18: Symptoms and diagnosis of digestive disorders -- 19: Esophageal disorders -- 20: Peptic disorders -- 21: Gastroenteritis -- 22: Hiatus hernia, bezoars, and foreign bodies -- 23: Pancreatitis -- 24: Malabsorption -- 25: Inflammatory bowel diseases -- 26: Clostridium difficile-induced colitis -- 27: Diverticular disease -- 28: Irritable bowel syndrome -- 29: Anal and rectal disorders -- 30: Tumors of the digestive system -- 31: Gastrointestinal emergencies -- 4: Liver And Gallbladder Disorders -- 32: Biology of the liver and gallbladder -- 33: Diagnostic tests for liver, gallbladder, and biliary disorders -- 34: Manifestations of liver disease -- 35: Fatty liver, cirrhosis, and related disorders -- 36: Hepatitis -- 37: Blood vessel disorders of the liver -- 38: Tumors of the liver -- 39: Gallbladder and bile duct disorders -- 5: Kidney And Urinary Tract Disorders -- 40: Biology of the kidneys and urinary tract -- 41: Symptoms and diagnosis of kidney and urinary tract disorders -- 42: Kidney failure -- 43: Dialysis -- 44: Kidney filtering disorders -- 45: Blood vessel disorders of the kidneys -- 46: Tubular and cystic kidney disorders -- 47: Urinary incontinence -- 48: Obstruction of the urinary tract -- 49: Urinary tract infections -- 50: Injury of the urinary tract -- 51: Cancers of the kidney and urinary tract -- 6: Heart And Blood Vessel Disorders -- 52: Biology of the heart and blood vessels -- 53: Symptoms and diagnosis of heart and blood vessel disorders -- 54: High blood pressure -- 55: Low blood pressure -- 56: Shock -- 57: Heart failure -- 58: Cardiomyopathy -- 59: Abnormal heart rhythms -- 60: Heart valve disorders -- 61: Infective endocarditis -- 62: Pericardial disease -- 63: Heart tumors -- 64: Atherosclerosis -- 65: Coronary artery disease -- 66: Peripheral arterial disease -- 67: Aneurysms and aortic dissection -- 68: Venous disorders -- 69: Lymphatic disorders -- 7: Lung And Airway Disorders -- 70: Biology of the lungs and airways -- 71: Symptoms and diagnosis of lung disorders -- 72: Rehabilitation for lung and airway disorders -- 73: Acute bronchitis -- 74: Pneumonia -- 75: Abscess in the lungs -- 76: Asthma -- 77: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- 78: Sleep apnea -- 79: Pulmonary embolism -- 80: Bronchiectasis -- 81: Atelectasis -- 82: Environmental lung diseases -- 83: Interstitial lung diseases -- 84: Allergic and autoimmune diseases of the lungs -- 85: Pleural disorders -- 86: Pulmonary hypertension -- 87: Respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome -- 88: Cancer of the lungs -- 8: Bone, Joint, And Muscle Disorders -- 89: Biology of the musculoskeletal system -- 90: Symptoms and diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders -- 91: Osteoporosis -- 92: Paget's disease of bone -- 93: Osteonecrosis -- 94: Bone and joint tumors -- 95: Bone and joint infections -- 96: Joint disorders -- 97: Autoimmune disorders of connective tissue -- 98: Vasculitic disorders -- 99: Gout and pseudogout -- 100: Hand disorders -- 101: Foot problems -- 102: Muscular dystrophies and related disorders -- 103: Muscle, bursa, and tendon disorders -- 9: Brain, Spinal Cord, And Nerve Disorders -- 104: Diology of the nervous system -- 105: Diagnosis of brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders -- 106: Pain -- 107: Headaches -- 108: Dizziness and vertigo -- 109: Sleep disorders -- 110: Brain dysfunction -- 111: Delirium and dementia -- 112: Stupor and coma -- 113: Seizure disorders -- 114: Stroke -- 115: Head injuries -- 116: Tumors of the nervous system -- 117: Infections of the brain and spinal cord -- 118: Prion diseases -- 119: Movement disorders -- 120: Multiple Sclerosis and related disorders -- 121: Spinal cord disorders -- 122: Low back and neck pain -- 123: Peripheral nerve disorders -- 124: Autonomic nervous system disorders -- 125: Cranial nerve disorders -- 10: Mental Health Disorders -- 126: Overview of mental health care -- 127: Somatoform disorders -- 128: Anxiety disorders -- 129: Mood disorders -- 130: Suicidal behavior -- 131: Eating disorders -- 132: Personality disorders -- 133: Dissociative disorders -- 134: Schizophrenia and delusional disorder -- 135: Sexuality -- 11: Disorders Of Nutrition And Metabolism -- 136: Overview of nutrition -- 137: Under nutrition -- 138: Vitamins -- 139: Minerals and electrolytes -- 140: Obesity and the metabolic syndrome -- 141: Cholesterol disorders -- 142: Water balance -- 143: Acid-base balance -- 144: Porphyrias -- 12: Hormonal Disorders -- 145: Biology of the endocrine system -- 146: Pituitary gland disorders -- 147: Thyroid gland disorders -- 148: Adrenal gland disorders -- 149: Diabetes mellitus -- 150: Hypoglycemia -- 151: Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes -- 152: Carcinoid tumors --

13: Blood Disorders -- 153: Biology of blood -- 154: Symptoms and diagnosis of blood disorders -- 155: Blood transfusion -- 156: Anemia -- 157: Bleeding and clotting disorders -- 158: White blood cell disorders -- 159: Plasma cell disorders -- 160: Leukemias -- 161: Lymphomas -- 162: Myeloproliferative disorders -- 163: Spleen disorders -- 14: Cancer -- 164: Overview of cancer -- 165: Symptoms and diagnosis of cancer -- 166: Prevention and treatment of cancer -- 15: Immune Disorders -- 167: Biology of the immune system -- 168: Immunodeficiency disorders -- 169: Allergic reactions -- 170: Autoimmune disorders -- 171: Transplantation -- 16: Infections -- 172: Biology of infectious disease -- 173: Immunization -- 174: Bacterial infections -- 175: Bacteremia, sepsis, and septic shock -- 176: Antibiotics -- 177: Tuberculosis -- 178: Leprosy -- 179: Rickettsial and related infections -- 180: Parasitic infections -- 181: Fungal infections -- 182: Viral infections -- 183: Human immunodeficiency virus infection -- 184: Sexually transmitted diseases -- 17: Skin Disorders -- 185: Biology of the skin -- 186: Diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders -- 187: Itching and noninfectious rashes -- 188: Acne -- 189: Pressure sores -- 190: Sweating disorders -- 191: Hair disorders -- 192: Pigment disorders -- 193: Blistering diseases -- 194: Parasitic skin infections -- 195: Bacterial skin infections -- 196: Fungal skin infections -- 197: Viral skin infections -- 198: Sunlight and skin damage -- 199: Noncancerous skin growths -- 200: Skin cancers -- 201: Nail disorders -- 18: Mouth And Dental Disorders -- 202: Biology of the mouth -- 203: Lip and tongue disorders -- 204: Salivary gland disorders -- 205: Mouth sores -- 206: Mouth growths -- 207: Tooth disorders -- 208: Periodontal diseases -- 209: Temporomandibular disorders -- 210: Urgent dental problems -- 19: Ear, Nose, And Throat Disorders -- 211: Biology of the ears, nose, and throat -- 212: Hearing loss and deafness -- 213: Outer ear disorders -- 214: Middle and inner ear disorders -- 215: Nose, sinus, and taste disorders -- 216: Throat disorders -- 217: Nose and throat cancers -- 20: Eye Disorders -- 218: Biology of the eyes -- 219: Symptoms and diagnosis of eye disorders -- 220: Refractive disorders -- 221: Injuries of the eye -- 222: Eyelid and tearing disorders -- 223: Conjunctival and scleral disorders -- 224: Corneal disorders -- 225: Cataract -- 226: Uveitis -- 227: Glaucoma -- 228: Retinal disorders -- 229: Optic nerve disorders -- 230: Eye socket disorders -- 21: Men's Health Issues -- 231: Male reproductive system -- 232: Penile and testicular disorders -- 233: Prostate disorders -- 234: Sexual dysfunction in men -- 22: Women's Health Issues -- 235: Female reproductive system -- 236: Symptoms and diagnosis of gynecologic disorders -- 237: Sexual dysfunction in women -- 238: Menopause -- 239: Menstrual disorders and abnormal vaginal bleeding -- 240: Endometriosis -- 241: Fibroids -- 242: Vaginal infections -- 243: Pelvic inflammatory disease -- 244: Pelvic floor disorders -- 245: Breast disorders -- 246: Noncancerous gynecologic abnormalities -- 247: Cancers of the female reproductive system -- 248: Violence against women -- 249: Infertility -- 250: Family planning -- 251: Detection of genetic disorders -- 252: Normal pregnancy -- 253: High-risk pregnancy -- 254: Pregnancy and complicated by disease -- 255: Pregnancy and drug use -- 256: Complications of pregnancy -- 257: Normal labor and delivery -- 258: Complications of labor and delivery -- 259: Postdelivery period -- 23: Children's Health Issues -- 260: Newborns and infants -- 261: Problems in newborns -- 262: Birth defects -- 263: Chromosomal and genetic abnormalities -- 264: Problems in infants and very young children -- 265: Preschool and school-aged children -- 266: Behavioral and developmental problems in young children -- 267: Adolescents -- 268: Problems in adolescents -- 269: Bacterial infections -- 270: Viral infections -- 271: Respiratory disorders -- 272: Cystic fibrosis -- 273: Digestive disorders -- 274: Neurologic disorders -- 275: Ear, nose, and throat disorders -- 276: Eye disorders -- 277: Bone disorders -- 278: Hereditary connective tissue disorders -- 279: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis -- 280: Diabetes mellitus -- 281: Hereditary metabolic disorders -- 282: Hereditary periodic fever syndromes -- 283: Childhood cancers -- 284: Learning and developmental disorders -- 285: Cerebral palsy -- 286: Mental retardation/intellectual disability -- 287: Mental health disorders -- 288: Social issues affecting children and their families -- 289: Child neglect and abuse -- 24: Older People's Health Issues -- 290: Aging body -- 291: Aging and drugs --292: Provision of care -- 293: Health care coverage for older people -- 294: Long-term care -- 295: Coping with changes related to aging -- 296: Driving -- 297: Falls -- 298: Elder mistreatment -- 25: Injuries And Poisoning -- 299: First aid -- 300: Burns -- 301: Fractures -- 302: Sports injuries -- 303: Heat disorders -- 304: Cold injuries -- 305: Radiation injury -- 306: Electrical and lightning injuries -- 307: Drowning -- 308: Diving and compressed air injuries -- 309: Altitude illness -- 310: Poisoning -- 311: Bites and stings -- 26: Special Subjects -- 312: Science of medicine and clinical trials -- 313: Medical decision making -- 314: Common imaging tests -- 315: Hospital care -- 316: Surgery -- 317: Complementary and alternative medicine -- 318: Medicinal herbs and nutraceuticals -- 319: Drug use and abuse -- 320: Travel and health -- 321: Amyloidosis -- 322: Disorders of unknown cause -- Appendixes -- 1: Weights and measures -- 2: Common medical tests -- 3: Drug names : generic and trade -- 4: Resources for help and information -- Index.