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The Asthma Update
Alvin and Virginia Silverstein and Laura Silverstein Nunn clearly explain the symptoms of asthma, a disease that afflicts 20 million Americans. Readers will learn about the history of this disease, which was mistakenly treated with coffee, coastal vacations, and camel droppings. They will also learn about current research on fast-acting and long-term treatments, and cures. Personal accounts from sufferers help make this book a valuable resource for health information.
* Reviews *
This entry in the Disease Update series is a thorough overhaul of the authors earlier Asthma (1997). It includes new material on the history of the illness as well as on modern research and treatment. Where the earlier book referred to the search for the asthma gene, this one mentions a 2005 report noting that there are 161 genes related to the disease and discusses a possible asthma vaccine. Putting faces on the disease, several chapters begin with individual stories of asthma management, profiling individuals such as singer Wynonna Judd, President Teddy Roosevelt, NFL player Jerome Bettis, and Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead. With larger type, more white space, and a more simply written text, the book is accessible to a somewhat younger audience than the original. The new edition provides a clearly written, well-organized, and well-documented account of a disease that is increasingly prevalent among young people., Booklist December 1, 2006
RL
Grades
5-6 IL
Grades
5-12+ GRL
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