This is an A-Z reference guide to over 5000 medical terms including symptoms, diseases, drugs and treatments. Since the appearance of the first edition in 1990, significant developments have occured in many areas of medicine. For example, far more internal operations can now be performed by minimally invasive keyhole surgery. Genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, are now understood in far greater depth than before. There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of screening tests for the early detection of diseases. In its new edition, The British Medical Association Complete Family Health Encyclopaedia describes the new methods of investigation and treatments that have been introduced. Coverage includes: common and uncommon diseases, disorders, and conditions; a comprehensive range of drugs and tests; new and established surgical procedures; information on diagnosis and treatment; and explanations of medical terms in everyday language. One million words, 5,000 entries, and more than 2,000 illustrations make this the most comprehensive book on health and medicine ever prepared for the British public.