Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook

Considered by the World Health Organization to be the most widely-used health care manual in the world, Where There Is No Doctor provides easy-to-understand information on how to identify, treat, and prevent many common health issues. Inside you'll find information on:

examining and caring for sick people – how to check breathing, pulse, and temperature; identifying diseases based on fever patterns, watching for signs of dangerous illnesses, and when to go for medical help identifying and treating illnesses – recognizing common sicknesses including dehydration, cold and flu, asthma, allergic reactions, arthritis, and back pain, as well as serious illnesses like malaria, tuberculosis, tetanus, dengue, and typhoid fever sanitation and disease prevention – promoting good hygiene, step-by-step instructions to build a basic latrine, and prevention and treatment of intestinal parasites and worms first aid and wilderness medicine – how to treat minor injuries like small and large cuts and minor burns, and more serious injuries and conditions like drowning, broken bones, bullet or knife wounds, snakebites, and shock pregnancy and sexual health – staying healthy during pregnancy, preparing for birth, and delivering a baby; birth control methods; identifying, treating, and preventing sexually transmitted infections like HIV and syphilis medicines and home remedies – how and when to use medicines, how to tell if a home remedy is helpful or harmful, and an easy-to-reference index of medicines with uses, dosages, and precautions
Heavily illustrated and written in plain language, this handbook emphasizes addressing the underlying causes of poor health and focuses on cleanliness, healthy diet, vaccinations, and appropriate, cautious use of medicines. Useful for health workers, educators, and others involved in primary care and health promotion, Where There Is No Doctor has been translated into over 75 languages around the world. This practical and trusted guide equips readers to protect and care for their own health, the health of their families and their communities, and helps identify which problems need the attention of an experienced health worker.

The latest reprint (May 2025, 21st printing) includes current medication information such as updates on antibiotics and other medicines, and revised sections on night blindness and polio.

About Hesperian Health Guides: Hesperian partners with health workers, community members, medical professionals, and others around the world to develop, publish, and share accurate health information. To help all people take greater control over their health, Hesperian’s books are written using plain, easy-to-understand language, feature plentiful illustrations and are regularly updated with the latest medical information.