Although common respiratory ailments can be effectively treated, they account for a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality around the world because of under diagnosis and under treatment. In Disorders of the Respiratory Tract: Common Challenges in Primary Care, Matthew L. Mintz, MD, and his colleagues from The George Washington University School of Medicine, concisely review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of common respiratory conditions seen in a primary care setting. Using an illuminating case-based approach, Dr. Mintz assesses the key clinical questions that a primary care physician would ask and applies the most up-to-date research and guidelines to offer the practitioner evidence-based solutions. The author covers the range of knowledge needed to provide excellent care for patients with respiratory disease, from the basics of pulmonary function testing to understanding and caring for common respiratory illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and pneumonia. Less common illnesses, such as sarcoidosis and lung cancer, are also discussed. For each disorder, Dr. Mintz explains the key points regarding the epidemiology of the disease, its pathophysiology, the differential diagnosis and diagnosis, and its recommended treatment. A personal digital assistant (PDA) version of the book (ISBN: 1-58829-919-8) is available separately from the publisher at www.humanapress.com. Concise and practical, Disorders of the Respiratory Tract: Common Challenges in Primary Care offers primary care providers a case-based approach that emphasizes diagnosis and management of common respiratory ailments using evidence-based medicine.