Table Of ContentBRITISH
MEDICAL
ASSOC IAT ION
COMPLETE
FAMILY
HEALTH
GUIDE
BRITISH
MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION
COMPLETE
FAMILY
HEALTH
GUIDE
BMA Consulting Medical Editor
DR MICHAEL PETERS
Medical Editor
DR TONY SMITH
A Dorling Kindersley Book
Dorling Kindersley
LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH,
MELBOURNE, AND DELHI
First UK Edition, 2000
2nd UK Edition, 2005
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1
Published in the United Kingdom by Dorling Kindersley Limited,
80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL
A Penguin Company
Copyright © 2000, 2005 Dorling Kindersley Limited, London
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
the copyright owner.
The British Medical Association Complete Family Health
Guide provides general information on a wide range of health and
medical topics. The book is not a substitute for medical diagnosis,
however, and you are advised always to consult your doctor for
specific information on personal health matters. The naming of
any organization, product, or alternative therapy in this book does
not imply endorsement by the BMA, the BMA Consulting
Medical Editor, the Medical Editor, or the publisher; the omission
of any such names does not indicate disapproval.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
ISBN 1-4053-0719-6
Colour reproduction by GRB, Italy
Printed by SNP Leefung Printers, China
see our complete catalogue at
www.dk.com
FOREWORD
THE INTRODUCTION to the first edition of the Complete Family Health
Guide stressed that people were living longer in good health than ever
before. That trend has continued and is given prominence in this
second edition. The bulk of the book remains its detailed information
on symptoms and disorders. Symptoms are analysed in charts that give
guidance on self-help and when to see a doctor. Articles on disorders
explain what tests your doctor is likely to advise, what the results mean,
what treatments are in common use, and which are still on trial.
The main changes have been in genetics and technology. Advances in
our understanding of genetics have enabled fetal abnormalities to be
detected at an early stage; families affected by genetic disorders can
now often be helped to have a healthy child. Genetic advances have also
helped many families with a high risk of cancer or metabolic disease to
receive screening tests so that any problems can be identified promptly.
The Complete Family Health Guide also explains technical changes in
imaging the brain, heart, and other internal organs, allowing precise
diagnoses to be made with little or no risk of unpleasant side effects.
Similar reductions in risk have been achieved in many routine surgical
operations, using minimally invasive techniques (keyhole surgery) to
shorten the time spent in hospital and reduce visible scarring.
Today, people are faced with an often bewildering array of information
regarding health matters, and it may be difficult to know where to find
the most reliable source. The Complete Family Health Guide is based on
mainstream information from a panel of medical consultants chosen
by the BMA. Their experience provides an unrivalled assurance of
quality and reliability.
DR MICHAEL PETERS MB BS DR TONY SMITH MA BM BCh
BMA CONSULTING MEDICAL EDITOR MEDICAL EDITOR
BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL Mr James Johnson
TREASURER Dr David Pickersgill
CHAIRMAN OF THE REPRESENTATIVE BODY Dr Michael Wilks
MEDICAL EDITORS AND REVIEWERS
BMA CONSULTING MEDICAL EDITOR Dr Michael Peters MEDICAL EDITOR Tony Smith MA
MB BS BM BCh
Dr Ian R. Beider BDS (U.Lond.) Dr David Landau MRCP FRCR
Ms Jacky Bernett BSc RD Dr E. G. Hermione Lyall MD MRCPCH
Dr Jocelyn A. S. Brookes MB BS MRCP FRCR Dr Janice Main MBChB FRCP
Dr Owen Epstein MB BCh FRCP Dr Atul Mehta MA MD FRCP FRCPath
Prof. Peter Farndon MSc MD FRCP DCH Mr Alan Naftalin FRCOG
Dr Robert D Goldin MD FRCPath Mr Alan Nevies DO
Mr Fares S. Haddad BSc MCh (Orth) FRCS (Orth) Dr Conor O’Doherty MSc FRCP
Dr Julian Halcox MA MD MRCP Mr Mark Ornstein FRCS
Dr Michael G. Hanna BSc (Hons) MD FRCP Mrs Ann Peters SRN HV
Mr Martin Harris MD FRCOphth Dr Penny Preston MBChB MRCGP
Dr Steven J. Hurel FRCP PhD Prof. Stephen Spiro MD FRCP
Dr David Jones DDAM MRCS FISM FFSEM FFOM FRCP Mr Michael Stearns FRCS
Mr Amir V. Kaisary MA ChM FRCS Dr Frances Williams MA MBBChir MRCP
Mr Martin Kurzer FRCS DTM&H MRCPCH
DORLING KINDERSLEY
SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR Martyn Page SENIOR DESIGNER Ian Spick
PROJECT EDITOR Katie John DTP DESIGN Julian Dams
PROJECT ADMINISTRATION Katie Dock PRODUCTION Joanna Bull
MANAGING ART EDITOR Marianne Markham PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Corinne Roberts
DORLING KINDERSLEY INDIA
MANAGER Aparna Sharma DESIGNER Kavita Dutta
EDITORS Dipali Singh, Glenda Fernandes, Rohan Sinha DTP CO-ORDINATOR Pankaj Sharma
PREVIOUS EDITIONS
MEDICAL EDITORS
MEDICAL EDITOR Tony Smith MA BM BCh Penny Preston MB ChB MRCGP, Amanda Rouse BSc MB BS
DEPUTY MEDICAL EDITOR Sue Davidson MB BS MRCP MRCP MRCGP, Frances Williams MA MB BChir MRCP
MRCGP DRCOG DTM&H MRCPCH
ASSISTANT MEDICAL EDITORS Naomi Craft BSc MB BS MRCGP, MEDICAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (US) David Goldman MD FACP
Gabrielle Murphy BA BSc MB ChB, Fiona Payne MB BS, ASSOCIATE MEDICAL EDITOR (US) David A. Horowitz MD
6
MEDICAL REVIEWERS
Michael Adler MD FRCP FFPHM Terry Hamblin DM FRCP David Mabey BM BCh DM FRCP J. A. Savin MA MD FRCP DIH
Robert N. Allan MD FRCP FRCPath H. Manji MA MD MRCP Julian Shah MB ChB LRCP MRCS
Bruce Hendry MD PhD G. Keith Morris MD FRCP FRCF
Sir Peter Beale KBE FRCP FFCM
FFOM DTM&H S. R. Iliffe MRCGP Guy Neild MD FRCP FRCPath David V. Skinner FRCS FFAEM
A. Graham Bird FRCP FRCPath Paresh Jobanputra DM MRCP Noel D. L. Olsen MSc FRCP David Sutton MD FRCP FRCR
MRCGP FFPHM DMRD MCAR
Robin L. Blair MB FRCS (Ed.)
A. Parshall BSc MB BS PhD Roy Taylor BSc MB ChB MD
FRCS (C.) FACS W. F. Kelly MD FRCP
MRCPsych FRCP FRCPE
Fiona Boag MB BS FRCP P. Kendall-Taylor MD FRCP
M. R. Partridge MD FRCP Martin Thornhill MB BS BDS
Charles G. D. Brook MA MD Peng T. Khaw PhD MRCP FRCS R. C. Peveler DPhil MRCPsych MSc PhD FDSRCS(Ed.) FFDRCSI
FRCP FRCPCH FRCOphth
Rosalind Ramsay MA MB BS James Walker MD FRCP(Glas.)
Christopher Davidson Helen Kingston MD FRCP DCH MRCPsych FRCP(Edin.) FRCOG FRSM
MA(Cantab.) MB FRCP FESC Leslie Klenerman ChM FRCS T. M. Reynolds MB ChB BSc MD
Chris Williams DM FRCP
J. Michael Dixon MD FRCS George T. Lewith MA DM MRCP T. J. Ryan DM FRCP Jennifer A. Young MA MD
Andrew Doble MS FRCS(Urol.) MRCGP P. J. Sanderson MB PhD FRCPath FRCPath RCPI
MEDICAL CONTRIBUTORS
Samir Alvi BSc MB BS PhD DFFP Philip Gaut PhD Chris McLaughlin Christine Scott-Moncrieff MB
DRCOG Bruce George MS FRCS Sheena Meredith MB BS LRCP ChB MFHom
Ursula Arens Jennifer Glasspool PhD MRCS Anne Slavotinek MB BS FRCP
Helen Barnett BPharm Sandra Goldbeck-Wood MB Sanjida O’Connell PhD
Jeffrey L. Barron MB ChB MSc ChB J. Pearce Patricia Spallone PhD
MMed FRCPath Katherine Heimann D. A. Pearson MA MRCGP
Jane Stirling PhD
Sue Bosanko Chris Higgins Elliot Philipp MMA FRCS FRCOG
Joanna Thomas
Jane de Burgh RGN Kate Hope MB BS MRCS LRCP Paulette Pratt
Lindy Van den Berghe BMedSci
Helen Byrt PhD Amanda Jackson-Russell PhD Punit S. Ramrakha MA BM BCh
BM BS
Nancy Duin Marion Jowett MRCP PhD
Richard Walker PhD
Martin Edwards BDS SDSRCS PhD Ann Kramer Rosalind Ramsay MA MB BS
Helen Epstein PhD Lynne Low MB ChB MRCPsych Robert Whittle MB BS
Marie Fallon MB ChB DRCOG Theresa McCrone RGN Michael J. Rennie PhD FRSE Sam Wilde
Mary Fogarty MSc MB BCh BAO Ian McKee MB ChB DRCOG Mike Rogers BPharm MRPharmS Robert Youngson MB ChB
NUI DFFP Omar Sattaur DTM&H DO FRCOphth
DORLING KINDERSLEY
Managing Editors Andrea Bagg, Maxine Lewis, Janet Mohun Designers Amanda Carroll, Janice English, Sara Freeman,
Senior Editors Paul Docherty, Jill Hamilton, Nicki Lampon, Spencer Holbrook, Johnny Pau, Chris Walker
Mary Lindsay, Andrew Macintyre Design Assistance Kirsten Cashman, Nicola Hampel,
Deputy Senior Editor Jolyon Goddard Elaine Hewson, Richard Horsford, Sasha Howard,
Editors Ann Baggaley, Judith Bettesworth, Edda Bohnsack, Anne Renel, Mark Wilde
Martin Bryant, Jane de Burgh, Alan Byrne, Louise Clairmonte, Anatomy Visualizer Richard Tibbitts
Sue Cooper, Patricia Davis, Kim Dennis-Bryan, Patricia Dent, Illustrators Evi Antoniou, Debbie Maizels, Patrick Mulrey,
Kathy Fahey, Francesca George, Peter Harrison, Fiona Hunter, Richard Tibbitts, Halli Verrinder
Katie John, Sarah Keer-Keer, Alyson Lacewing, Jo Lankester, Ben Picture Researchers Andrea Sadler, Suzanne Williams
Morgan, Sean O’Connor, Mukul Patel, Hazel Richardson, Esther DTP Design Jason Little
Ripley, Nikki Taylor, Stephen Taylor, Gaia Vince, John Watson DTP Assistance Zirrinia Austin, Louise Waller
Editorial Assistance Judit Z. Bodnar, Peter Frances, Angeles Gavira, Production Michelle Thomas
Rachel Hutchinson, Robert Johnston, Heather Jones, Nancy Project Administration Delyth Hughes, Vicky Wilks, Anna Youle
Lieberman, Donna Loh, Rebecca Marsland, Ann Mummery, Irene Senior Managing Editor Martyn Page
Pavitt, Andrew Pine, Jennifer Quasha, Teresa Pritlove, Juliet Roberts Senior Managing Art Editor Bryn Walls
Project Researcher Claire Isaac BSc MB ChB Editorial Director Jackie Douglas
Indexer Sue Bosanko Art Director Peter Luff
Managing Art Editor Louise Dick Editorial Development Director (US) Jeanette Mall
Deputy Managing Art Editor Marianne Markham Editorial Director (US) LaVonne Carlson
Senior Designer Mark Batley Publisher (US) Chuck Lang
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CONTENTS
Painful or irritated eye.....102
CONTENTS Disturbed or impaired vision.....104
Hearing loss.....106
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK.....11 Earache.....108
Sore throat.....109
Hoarseness and/or voice loss.....110
TAKING CONTROL Coughing.....112
OF YOUR HEALTH Shortness of breath.....114
Wheezing.....116
15–62 Difficulty swallowing.....117
Vomiting.....118
INTRODUCTION.....16 Recurrent vomiting.....120
INHERITANCE AND HEALTH.....18 Abdominal pain.....122
Understanding inheritance.....20 Recurrent abdominal pain.....124
Health care throughout life.....23 Swollen abdomen.....126
Anal and rectal problems.....127
LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH.....31 Diarrhoea.....128
Diet and health.....32 Constipation.....130
Exercise and health.....39 Chest pain.....132
Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.....44 Palpitations.....134
Sex and health.....49 Poor bladder control.....135
Psychological health.....54 Frequent urination.....136
Safety and health.....58 Painful urination.....138
Back pain.....140
Neck pain or stiffness.....142
Painful joints.....144
ASSESSING YOUR Swollen ankles.....146
SYMPTOMS
MEN’S CHARTS.....148
63–178 Erectile dysfunction.....148
Testes and scrotum problems.....149
INTRODUCTION.....64 Problems with the penis.....150
GENERAL CHARTS.....68 WOMEN’S CHARTS.....152
Feeling unwell.....68 Breast problems.....152
Tiredness.....70 Absent periods.....154
Loss of weight.....72 Painful periods.....156
Difficulty sleeping.....74 Heavy periods.....157
Fever.....76 Abnormal vaginal bleeding.....158
Lumps and swellings.....78 Lower abdominal pain in women.....160
Feeling faint and passing out.....80 Abnormal vaginal discharge.....162
Headache.....82 Genital irritation in women.....163
Vertigo.....84 Painful intercourse in women.....164
Numbness and/or tingling.....86
Twitching and tremor.....88 CHILDREN’S CHARTS.....166
Facial pain.....90 Vomiting in children.....166
Difficulty speaking.....91 Diarrhoea in children.....168
Forgetfulness and/or confusion.....92 Fever in children.....170
Feeling depressed.....94 Breathing problems in children.....172
General skin problems.....96 Coughing in children.....174
Rash with fever.....98 Abdominal pain in children.....176
Hair and scalp problems.....100 Weight problems in children.....178
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CONTENTS
Skin infections and infestations.....303
LOOKING FOR Minor skin injuries.....308
Hair and nail disorders.....310
DISEASE
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM.....314
179–212 Bone disorders.....320
Joint and ligament disorders.....326
INTRODUCTION.....180
Muscle and tendon disorders.....340
VISITING YOUR DOCTOR.....182 Musculoskeletal injuries.....343
Medical history and examination.....183
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.....348
Obtaining samples for testing.....185
Major cardiovascular disorders.....354
TESTING SAMPLES.....187 Heart rate and rhythm disorders.....367
Tests on blood structure and function.....188 Heart valve and muscle disorders.....373
Chemical tests.....190 Peripheral vascular disorders.....382
Tests for microorganisms.....192
BLOOD AND THE LYMPHATIC
Cell and tissue tests.....194
AND IMMUNE SYSTEMS.....392
Genetic tests.....196
Blood disorders.....398
VISUALIZING INTERNAL ORGANS.....198 Disorders of the lymphatic system.....410
Imaging techniques.....200 Immune disorders.....412
Viewing techniques.....210 Allergies.....418
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM.....422
Nose and throat disorders.....426
YOUR BODY Lung disorders.....434
AND DISEASE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND
213–826 MENTAL FUNCTION.....460
General nervous system disorders.....468
INTRODUCTION.....214 Disorders of the brain and spinal cord.....473
Peripheral nervous system disorders.....495
GENES AND INHERITANCE.....218 Mental health disorders.....503
Genetic disorders.....224
EYES AND VISION.....518
CANCER.....228 Eye disorders.....522
Living with cancer.....232 Eyelid and tear system disorders.....535
Vision disorders.....538
INFECTIONS AND
EARS, HEARING, AND BALANCE.....544
INFESTATIONS.....238
Outer- and middle-ear disorders.....548
Viral infections.....242
Hearing and inner-ear disorders.....551
Bacterial infections.....253
Protozoal and fungal infections.....259 TEETH AND GUMS.....558
Worm infestations.....264 Disorders of the teeth.....560
Gum disorders.....569
SERIOUS INJURIES AND
ENVIRONMENTAL DISORDERS.....268 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.....572
Serious injuries.....269 General digestive and nutritional problems.....578
Poisoning and environmental disorders.....274 Disorders of the mouth, tongue, and
oesophagus.....584
SKIN, HAIR, AND NAILS.....281 Disorders of the stomach and duodenum.....591
Generalized skin conditions.....284 Disorders of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.595
Localized skin conditions.....292 Disorders of the intestines, rectum, and anus.....607
9
CONTENTS
HORMONES AND METABOLISM.....622
Pituitary gland disorders.....628
TREATING
Thyroid and parathyroid gland disorders.....631
Adrenal gland disorders.636 DISEASE
Metabolic disorders.....639
827–922
URINARY SYSTEM.....646
Kidney disorders.....650 INTRODUCTION.....828
Disorders of the bladder and urethra.....661
DRUG TREATMENT.....830
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.....668 Understanding drugs.....832
Disorders of the testes, scrotum, Drugs for infections and infestations.....834
and penis.....670 Drugs acting on the skin.....841
Prostate disorders.....676 Drugs for musculoskeletal disorders.....845
Male hormonal disorders.....680 Drugs for cardiovascular disorders.....848
Drugs for blood and immune system disorders
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.....682 and cancer.....854
Menstrual, menopausal, and hormonal Drugs for respiratory disorders.....860
problems.....686 Drugs acting on the brain and nervous
Disorders of the female reproductive organs.....693 system.....863
Breast disorders.....706 Drugs for eye and ear disorders.....870
Drugs for digestive disorders.....873
SEX AND REPRODUCTION.....714
Vitamin and mineral supplements.....878
Sexually transmitted infections.....716
Drugs acting on the endocrine system and
Sexual problems.....721 metabolism.....881
Infertility.....726 Drugs acting on the reproductive and
urinary systems.....887
PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH.....730
Problems in pregnancy.....736 SURGERY.....891
Problems in labour.....753 Having an operation.....892
Problems after childbirth.....759 Types of surgery.....897
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD.....764 CARE AND THERAPIES.....904
Problems in babies.....770 Care of the sick.....905
Chromosome and gene disorders.....775 Rehabilitation therapies.....909
Skin and hair disorders.....782 Death and dying.....912
Musculoskeletal disorders.....786 Psychological therapies.....916
Disorders of the cardiovascular and Complementary therapies.....920
respiratory systems.....790
Disorders of the nervous system.....798
Developmental and psychological
disorders.....805 USEFUL ONLINE SITES AND ADDRESSES,
Eye and ear disorders.810 AND INDEX.....923–992
Disorders of the digestive system.....816
Endocrine and metabolic disorders.....820 Useful online sites and addresses.....924
Disorders of the reproductive and Index.....936
urinary systems.....824 Acknowledgments.....991
10
