For its 19th Edition, the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy has been thoroughly updated and thoughtfully expanded, with more than 850 additional pages, 15 new chapters, over 300 new tables, and 56 new figures.

Packed with essential information on diagnosing and treating medical disorders,  this handy, compact guide was written by a team of clinicians for everyday use by medical professionals for delivery of the best care to their patients.

Designed for maximum clinical utility, the new Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy 19th edition makes it easy to find the right information, right when it is needed. It is a must-have for medical students, residents, practicing physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals.

1. Pneumonia in elderly patients may be indicated by malaise, anorexia, or confusion.
   
   
2. On average, elderly patients have 6 diagnosable disorders, and the primary care physician is often unaware of some of them. A disorder in one organ system can weaken another system, exacerbating the deterioration of both and leading to disability, dependence, and, without intervention, death.
   
   
3. Annually, 30 to 40% of elderly people living in the community fall; 50% of nursing home residents fall.
   
   
4. The color (eg, yellow, green) and thickness of sputum do not help differentiate bacterial causes of cough from other causes.
   
   
5. The severity of dyspnea is not always proportional to the severity of the cause (eg, pulmonary embolism in a fit, healthy person may cause only mild dyspnea).
   
   
6. Although angina can be felt anywhere between the ear and the umbilicus (and often not in the chest), it is typically consistently related to physical or emotional stress, ie, patients do not experience angina from climbing one flight of stairs one day and tolerate 3 flights the next day.
   
   
7. Palpitations are not a reliable indicator of a significant arrhythmia, but palpitations in a patient with structural heart disease or an abnormal ECG may be a sign of a serious problem and warrant investigation.
   
   
8. Syncope precipitated by unpleasant physical or emotional stimuli (eg, pain, fright), occurring in the upright position and often preceded by nausea, weakness, yawning, apprehension, blurred vision, or diaphoresis suggests vasovagal syncope.
   
   
9. A history of oil droplets in stool, particularly if associated with weight loss, suggests malabsorption.
   
   
10. If the difference in pupil size is greater in the dark, the smaller pupil is abnormal; if the difference in pupil size is greater in light, the larger pupil is abnormal.

Millions of people around the world have relied on The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook for quick access to authoritative, accessible health information. Written by more than 300 internationally respected medical experts, this comprehensive medical resource features extensive, up-to-date coverage of health care for newborns, the elderly, and everyone in between.

• Contains reliable, up-to-date information on a broad range of medical conditions, illnesses, and situations, including accidents and injuries, aging, cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, heart disease, mental health disorders, and many others
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The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook is filled with essential medical information that’s both easy to find and easy to understand in order to help you communicate more effectively with your doctor, understand a diagnosis or treatment option, or simply know more about your health and the health of those you care about.

The Merck Manual has traditionally provided exclusive, up-to-the-minute information to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Now, with this special Home Edition, the general public can access virtually the same critical data contained in the physician's version -- but in everyday language and a reader-friendly format.

With contributions from nearly 200 internationally respected medical experts, this fully revised edition offers vital, easy-to-understand information about almost every known medical issue, including:

• AIDS • cancer • eating, digestive, and nutrition disorders • heart disease • mental illness • pediatric care -- including a new chapter on early-childhood development • sexual dysfunction • terminal illness • viruses and infections

...and much more. Featuring original illustrations and diagrams, an A-Z listing of brand-name and generic drugs, and an appendix of medical resources, The Merck Manual -- Home Edition is published as a not-for-profit service by Merck, a world leader in breakthrough medical discoveries with a long commitment to making the world a healthier place.