Books in Tiny Battlefields series

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites and spread by mosquitoes. Especially dangerous to children, it's the cause of 1 million deaths annually. About half of the world is at risk of catching malaria. This thought-provoking book answers questions including what it's like to contract malaria and the groundbreaking efforts and goals of today's medical and scientific community to both prevent and treat the disease. Mosquito nets, insecticides, and medications are among the many topics featured. Photographs of professionals in action and quotations from specialists add a sense of urgency to address this global crisis.

Cancer is a global killer. It involves a large group of potentially deadly diseases, as many as 200, that cause an estimated 13 percent of all deaths worldwide. Besides causes and preventions, this thorough look at the disease also includes information about genetic screening and treatments. It answers questions such as what chemotherapy does and what alternatives are available for cancer treatments. Significant breakthroughs including gene therapy and immunotherapy have given us hope for the future of a cancer cure. This absorbing volume addresses many concerns about a topic often in the news that personally touches many lives.

Poliomyelitis, better known as polio, is a crippling virus that can lead to paralysis or even death. A childhood vaccination program had diminished the incidence of polio worldwide to the point that scientists thought they had beaten it. They were wrong. Polio appears to be on the rise again. Disturbingly, some of the newly infected can spread the disease while not exhibiting the usual symptoms. How the virus spreads, the effect of vaccinations, the historical figures who battled the disease, and the future outlook for eradication are some of the varied topics of this captivating look at a terrible disease.

Cancer is a global killer. It involves a large group of potentially deadly diseases, as many as 200, that cause an estimated 13 percent of all deaths worldwide. Besides causes and preventions, this thorough look at the disease also includes information about genetic screening and treatments. It answers questions such as what chemotherapy does and what alternatives are available for cancer treatments. Significant breakthroughs including gene therapy and immunotherapy have given us hope for the future of a cancer cure. This absorbing volume addresses many concerns about a topic often in the news that personally touches many lives.

Poliomyelitis, better known as polio, is a crippling virus that can lead to paralysis or even death. A childhood vaccination program had diminished the incidence of polio worldwide to the point that scientists thought they had beaten it. They were wrong. Polio appears to be on the rise again. Disturbingly, some of the newly infected can spread the disease while not exhibiting the usual symptoms. How the virus spreads, the effect of vaccinations, the historical figures who battled the disease, and the future outlook for eradication are some of the varied topics of this captivating look at a terrible disease.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites and spread by mosquitoes. Especially dangerous to children, it's the cause of 1 million deaths annually. About half of the world is at risk of catching malaria. This thought-provoking book answers questions including what it's like to contract malaria and the groundbreaking efforts and goals of today's medical and scientific community to both prevent and treat the disease. Mosquito nets, insecticides, and medications are among the many topics featured. Photographs of professionals in action and quotations from specialists add a sense of urgency to address this global crisis.

AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the infectious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV attacks the immune system, sometimes with fatal consequences. Though the first reported case was only in 1959, an estimated 40 million people now live with AIDS or HIV. This valuable book discusses the history of this previously unknown disease, what scientists discovered about its transmission, and the current treatments and vaccines used to battle it. Relevant photographs and quotes from those in the field are among the highlights, as well as a focus on the critical impact of education and healthy lifestyle choices.

The highly contagious disease smallpox was a frightening scourge throughout history. Up to 1959, 50 million people each year became infected with the disease. Not only did it leave terrible scars on those that were lucky enough to survive but it weakened the body and left the afflicted vulnerable to yet more deadly complications. Readers will learn about the biology of the smallpox virus, historical figures who contracted it, and the massive vaccination campaign that eradicated smallpox in just 10 years, giving us hope that a similar approach may help eliminate other fatal diseases.