Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 20th Edition, 1986

The Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics is responsible for compiling the recommendations of the Academy on the control of infectious diseases in children. This summary, commonly known among pediatricians as the Red Book, is published approximately every four to five years. The list of authors and contributors is impressive, as the Committee has also solicited the advice of its liaison representatives from the Center for Disease Control, FDA, NIH, and Canadian Pediatric Society. How such a large and diverse group can come to consensus on recommendations is probably an interesting story in itself. In any case, the book represents the "best" of accepted practice in pediatric infectious disease through the end of 1985. The book is organized by causative organism and includes subsections on clinical manifestations, etiology, epidemiology, diagnostic tests, treatment, and control measures. As no single volume, particularly of this breadth, can cover all of these areas well, the Red Book has both strengths and weaknesses. Its guidelines for immunizations and control of infectious disease in children are its obvious strength, although the newest developments, such as those with the H. influenza vaccine, are not adequately explained. As a basis for infectious disease therapy, the book is of little practical use for serious infections. New sections in this edition include recommendations for control of sexually transmitted diseases (although how this section was omitted from earlier editions is remarkable), management of children in day care settings, new recommendations for prophylaxis of bacterial endocarditis, and chapters on newly described diseases such as Lyme disease, toxic shock syndrome, cryptosporidiosis, and delta hepatitis. For the most part, these sections are well written and helpful, particularly as these subjects play a more important role in pediatrics. In short, the Red Book-1986 is a well-summarized guide to ordinary pediatric infectious disease and should continue to aid as a reference in clinical pediatrics.