The aim of the Clinical Cases for MRCPCH Theory and Science textbook is to illuminate how science can be used to tackle clinical cases in paediatrics.

For the student who is unfamiliar with MRCPCH Theory and Science questions and the examination format this will exemplify the types of question asked in the actual exam. By reflecting the new syllabus it hopes to demonstrate to the reader how those who set the examination generate questions and then place them into the question bank and MRCPCH Theory and Science papers.

For those studying for the examination, we hope this short book will supplement your existing learning and that it will enable you to access some of the weightier textbooks and even the occasional scientific paper or recent review article. For those of you writing questions, I hope this will offer an insight into what makes a good question in the new format of the exam. For those like me, who enjoy understanding the science of what we see and teach I hope that this encourages you to think about what you see in clinical practice and relate this to your students of all ages and stages of their careers.

This small book is not intended to be read from cover to cover at one sitting. The 'fact heavy' nature of each chapter and the lack of illustrations in this first edition would make that very difficult. Rather, I would hope that readers will read a case, attempt the questions and then carefully read through the discussion Clinical Cases for MRCPCH Theory and Science iv iv that follows. This might prompt further reflection and sometimes further reading.