Editorial Reviews:
Synopsis
As a medical, dental, podiatry, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner student, you have no doubtedly heard the phase, "when you hear hoof beats, think horses…not zebras." This is a book of the "horses."
During the first two years of medical school, students are tested on a vast range of diseases, syndromes, and maladies; those both very common in our population and rarely seen by even the most seasoned clinicians. Yet during our clerkships and rotations, we are often questioned on the most common causes of disease, not the zebras. While searching for the perfect handbook for rotations, we found most to be too academically focused, too brief in explanation, or too bulky to carry to the clinic; hence the inspiration to compile a handbook that addresses these very issues.
These are the clinical conditions we are most apt to see. While the zebra’s are important to recognize and consider, we are confident that you will be able to use our book to find exactly what you need to know regarding the disease afflicting your patient while warding off the barrage of incoming pimp questions. For example, if a child presents with otitis media, sure it may be due to Aspergillus flavus (zebra), but it is most likely due to one of the "horses": rhinovirus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenza or Moraxella catarrhalis.
We recommend those studying pathology, microbiology, USMLE & COMLEX Step 1 & 2 exams, and rotating in the hospitals/clinics to keep this guide close at hand.
Jason and I found that a resource such as this allowed us to not only have the most common causes of disease at our fingertips, but enabled us to produce a rapid differential diagnosis as well.
We wish you all the best in your studies!
