Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology: A Textbook of Skin Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence

By Amy S. Paller and Anthony J. Mancini 4th ed, 632 pp, $169 Philadelphia, PA, Elsevier/Saunders, 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1-4377-0412-9 There is no dearth of pediatric dermatology books currently available, but owing to its size and clarity, this book has been a standout since Sidney Hurwitz wrote the first edition in 1981. Several other dermatology textbooks have appeared in the half-century since the publication of Henry Harris Perlman's book in 1960.1 Like Perlman, Hurwitz began his career as a pediatrician confronted by myriad cutaneous disorders in children.2 After 14 years of practice as a pediatrician, he did a residency in dermatology; as a pediatric dermatologist, he became instrumental in the development of the subspecialty, both nationally and internationally. Two distinguished pediatric dermatologists from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Amy Paller and Anthony Mancini, have revised the text from the third edition, which they also revised. The 26 chapters encompass the field, ranging from an overview (with excellent illustrations) of the basic morphology of the skin, to chapters on disorders of the hair and nails, to the vasculitides, to abuse and factitial disorders. Each chapter is orderly and well organized, and the book is amply augmented throughout by well-executed color illustrations. The clarity of the text is exemplified by the “Vascular Disorders of Infancy and Childhood” chapter. An initial “Contemporary Classification of Vascular Disorders” table sets the stage. Vascular tumors include hemangioma of infancy, tufted angioma, Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, pyogenic granuloma, and hemangiopericytoma, while the listing of vascular malformations includes capillary, venous, lymphatic, arterial, arteriovenous, and complex types. What is exciting is that several treatments have emerged for infantile hemangiomas, possibly to replace the traditional active nonintervention. These include the use of the pulsed dye laser and, more importantly, the innovation of oral propranolol. “Infestations, Bites, and Stings” is another well-conceived section. The superb photographs illustrating the differences in infants and young children, in whom the scabies mite might infest the scalp and face, are equal in quality to the description of scabetic infestations. Chigger and avian bites also receive their due, as do lice and the havoc they cause. The photograph of the botfly larva is of such high quality that it almost makes the larva seem real. The chapter on child abuse is important, because it points out what is and is not the result of abuse. To illustrate some significant points, ecchymoses on the ear lobe point toward abuse, as do evenly spaced lesions on one part of the body. The chapter discusses Munchausen syndrome or its presentation by proxy, also referred to as pediatric symptom falsification, which involves exaggerated complaints of a fictitious nature when the child is old enough to voice his or her concern or when the parent, often the mother, acts as the proxy to provide the details. The chapter also discusses Morgellons disease, an associated condition that has appeared in the past decade and that is described as “A delusional disorder . . . characterized by adherence to a possible, yet implausible, belief for which there is no supportive objective evidence.” Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology is a delight to read and is highly recommended. Back to top Article Information Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The author has completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and reported receiving payment from Elsevier for serving as the editor in chief of Clinics in Dermatology. References 1. Perlman HH. Pediatric Dermatology. Chicago, IL: Year Book Publishers; 1960 2. Schachner LA. Sidney Hurwitz (1928-1995). J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;35:132-133Google ScholarCrossref