The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy 20th Edition

This is a comprehensive manual. I bought it because of the difference of opinions of different doctors and vets that we received when our cat was sick. We spent over $6,000+ and found out he only had 1 of the 7 symptoms of his diagnosis and the hospital could not find the reason for his weight loss. Many years ago a human Merck Manual helped us discover that the specialist was using one. After coming out of the hospital and during a followup visit, I asked what is the next step to take. I advised him we bought a Merck Manual and can read it just as well as him and was not happy. He sent us to an Electrophysiologist, a speciality we never knew existed.Kitty gained weight again, just needed to peak his appetite with Instinct Rabbit and Duck dry cat food. Apparently, his smell was off and Instinct coats their kibble with the flavor you are buying. It wasn’t easy finding the right one because he is food specific and it must be kibble. We donated all the ones recommended and others we thought he would the rescues. When we first adopted him as a kitten, he was sneezing mucous tinted with blood and vet said he would grow out of it. He did but ….Highly recommend double checking and / or getting a 2nd opinion, human or otherwise.

Here’s the review I wrote for the 19th edition on 2011: I've been getting and using the Merck Manual for over 30 years to answer questions about disease for family and friends (pediatrics through geriatrics) as well as preparing to ask germane questions of physicians responsible for care of family and friends. It is comprehensive in its coverage of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of diseases of the human body and contains the latest research results on the treatment options. It's really not that difficult for the layman to understand the medical terminology and the result is factual understanding of the major aspects of disease which you will NOT get from the standard home health care books from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Mayo Clinic, the AMA or even the Merck Home Health handbook. And, unlike the Merck Manual, these books directed to the laity do not contain the diagnostic information upon which physicians decide precisely what disease they are presented with. Yes, there will be much superfluous information which you may never use, but, when you want and need the information about a specific disease, here's where you should start your education.The same holds true for the updated 2018 20th edition. I neglected to mention that this manual also contains a plethora of ancillary information including thorough sections on pediatrics, geriatrics, injuries, bites and stings, patient care, alternative medicine, dietary supplements, rehabilitation, normal test values and even legal issues such as advance directives. Yup, it’s pricey, but it’s always proved to be valuable to me.

It’s an updated version from my first one.1994. Was a great reference book than during my residence time and is a great reference now. Every dollar worth.

My granddaughter graduation present for her nursing career.

There are almost 4000 pages covers all types of disease and clinical pharmacology. To my surprise, even Bayesian estimation is covered in the book. The book discusses the mechanism of different types of disease as well as the mechanism of action of related drugs. Some people mentioned that they prefer the free online version. But from my point of view, owning a physical book make it clear about what you want to read.This version is more exhaustive than the previous version. It added several new chapters, for example discussion in neurosciences. I bought it directly from Amazon for big discount.

I've been purchasing Merck for over twenty years, and rely on it heavily to keep us updated in the field of medical science. This is the thickest volume in quite a while, and it is worth the space on your shelf. It takes a medical background to be able to absorb the pertinent information provided, and is handy for anyone who desires a more comprehensive understanding of medical diagnosis, possible treatments and prognosis. It is NOT a substitute for consulting a physician, but can give you a better grasp on what you are up against. I frequently refer to Merck when working with patients that have rare and unusual conditions. It's always in there.

I am entering my second year of PA school and I use this book 2-3 times a week.Summary: This is clearly a book for practitioners ONLY (or soon to be). If you are a medical, PA, or NP student, consider delaying buying this book until your 2nd or 3rd year. This book can feel very overwhelming, especially since most of the time you have a quick question and it may take several minutes to find it. It is great to use if you are trying to understand the entire picture of a disease, especially in a clinical context. It starts by giving you 1-2 paragraphs of pathophysiology, then gives you the process of diagnosing, the clinical presentation, the ddx, labs, tx, prognosis, and "pearls" of the disease. I like using this when I am learning about a specific disease for the first time. Please understand, there is no one book that can answer every question of medicine. This however, is as close as you will get with the exception of a few things here and there. Overall, great book to supplement my classroom lectures.

This is my third Merck Manual. Maybe the best. Expanded info. I learned about Merck in the 80s. Critical info to have to be an enlightened & educated patient. They are ALL heavy books. The size change is reason for increased weight. Pages were always thin paper. What’s inside is SO educational & helpful. Everybody interested in their own health & the health of their family & friends should have this resource. No more poorly informed patients blindly trusting.