Welcome to the Common Sense Encyclopedia section of my website. The purpose of this project is to give short, easily understood answers to common questions that come up in my everyday pediatric practice - in the office, or on the phone with parents. The definitions and answers are not meant to be definitive, textbook style discussions - it's "news you can use." The style reflects the way I talk to my patients - I try to keep explanations simple, direct and useful. Many of the terms are things you might hear in passing in the hospital or at the doctor's office and just wonder what they mean, or even be a little embarrassed to ask about. I've included a few of my favorite home remedies, too.

But please remember that nothing can replace a good relationship with your personal physician, who really should be willing to answer any question you have in a way that you can understand. Don't try to diagnose your child out of a book or off a web page, and if your child is acutely ill, call your doctor, don't fiddle around on the Internet! Remember the old doctor's proverb: "A patient who treats himself has a fool for a physician."

This is obviously a work in progress, growing over time. Please feel free to send questions, suggestions, or bug reports you have to me and I'll try to include the answers here. Perhaps you would like to learn about new developments relating to pediatric medicine - you should join the mailing list (view the archive) and receive News and Views from current pediatric literature I think you might find interesting or might want to discuss with your doctor.

Many thanks to the folks at Bare Bones Software, without whose most excellent product BBEdit such a project would be simply impossible. And many thanks as well to Philip Greenspun and Jakob Nielsen, for turning me on to style sheets and helping to improve the useablity factor of the site.Encylopedia Stats

Terms of use: This information is advisory only and is not intended to replace sound clinical judgement or individualized patient care by a licensed physician. The author disclaims all warranties, whether expressed or implied, including any warranty as to the quality, accuracy, safety, or suitability of this information for any particular purpose. Any use of the information contained on any page of this site is evidence of agreement with these terms of use.

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