Despite outstanding success in the control of childhood diseases over the past few decades, paediatricians and public health doctors face an ongoing battle against every sort of infection. Although threats such as HIV continue to emerge, and old enemies like TB and measles remain unpredictable, more uncommon, and therefore unfamiliar, infections must be diagnosed and treated just as effectively. This manual offers detailed information on the causative organisms, epidemiology and clinical features of all important childhood infections likely to be encountered in the UK or abroad. There are also recommendations on management of each condition, and steps to be taken to prevent future cases. The two main sections give, firstly, general clinical guidance, and, secondly, uniformly structured entries on each individual infection. The emphasis is on accessability to practical advice. The manual has been prepared by a team of clinicians commissioned by the British Paediatric Association. It is designed to be a companion volume to the Department of Health's "Immunisation Against Infectious Disease".