• Articles

    Lower Extremity Abnormalities in Children

    PAMELA SASS, GHINWA HASSAN

    Lower extremity abnormalities in children, which are common in family practices, include intoeing, out-toeing, bowlegs, and knock-knees. An accurate diagnosis for appropriate treatment options can be made with a careful history and physical examination.

    Management of Status Epilepticus

    JOSEPH I. SIRVEN, ELIZABETH WATERHOUSE

    Because status epilepticus is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, physicians must be prepared for immediate diagnosis and treatment of this emergency neurologic condition.

    Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome: Importance of the Long QT Syndrome

    JOHN S. MEYER, ALI MEHDIRAD, BAKR I. SALEM, WIT A. JAMRY, AGNIESZKA KULIKOWSKA, PIOTR KULIKOWSKI

    Sudden arrhythmia death syndrome, which is caused by hereditary ion channel disorders such as long QT syndrome and the Brugada syndrome, accounts for a substantial proportion of sudden cardiac deaths when no anatomic abnormalities are found.

    Off-Label Applications for SSRIs

    KIMBERLY J. STONE, ANTHONY J. VIERA, CHRISTOPHER L. PARMAN

    Off-label conditions for which selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be effective include generalized anxiety disorder, premature ejaculation, migraine prophylaxis, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and neurocardiogenic syncope.

    Prevention of Malaria in Travelers

    VINCENT LO RE, III, STEPHEN J. GLUCKMAN

    Physicians are being asked more frequently about preventing malarial infection. Patients traveling to tropical locations should have their itineraries reviewed, be prescribed appropriate chemoprophylaxis, be advised of protective measures, and be instructed about when to seek...

    Inside AFP

    Rebecca Poage, M.D., Accepts John C. Rose Medical Editing Fellowship

    Janis Wright

    AFP is pleased to announce the newest name on its list of medical editors: Rebecca Poage, M.D., has accepted the John C. Rose medical editing fellowship and, as of July 1, has joined the staff of medical editors based at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C....

    Graham Center Policy One-Pager

    Family Physicians Make a Substantial Contribution to Maternity Care: The Case of the State of Maine

    Family physicians provided nearly 20 percent of labor and delivery care in Maine in the year 2000. A substantial proportion of this care was provided to women insured by Medicaid and those delivering in smaller, rural hospitals and residency-affiliated hospitals. As family...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Matthew Neff

    AAFP to Publish Consumer Health Magazine for Physicians' Waiting Rooms | CDC Releases Revised Travel Health Information Resource | HHS Launches Efforts to Build a National Electronic Health Care System | Statistics Show U.S. Birth Rate Reached a Record Low in 2002 | Family...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Sarah Evans, Heather McNeill

    Inherited mutations in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene result in a distinct obesity syndrome, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. MC4R gene mutations were found in 29 (5.8 percent) of 500 adults with severe early-onset obesity; 23 of...

    Editorials

    Off-Label Use of Prescription Drugs

    STUART L. NIGHTINGALE

    Many physicians believe it is sometimes appropriate to prescribe drugs for indications that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this issue of American Family Physician, Stone, Viera, and Parman1 base their review article on this premise...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    The personnel devoting their time to homeless patients are a godsend. This evening, one patient posed a difficult dilemma. The history reflected a hand injury one month earlier, involving several extensor tendons. After receiving primary closure of the wound in the emergency...

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    Acute Myocardial Infarction

    NICOLAS DANCHIN, EDOARDO DE BENEDETTI, PHILIP URBAN

    What treatments improve outcomes in acute myocardial infarction? Which treatments improve outcomes for cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction?

    Putting Evidence into Practice: An Evidence-Based Approach

    Screening for Cervical Cancer

    KENNETH FINK, BARBARA CLARK

    Case study: TS, a 24-year-old, sexually active, white woman, visits your office to discuss birth control methods. She first had intercourse at age 16 and smokes two packs of cigarettes per week. You suggest that she be screened for cervical cancer as part of routine health...

    Photo Quiz

    Ashy Dermatosis

    KRISTA KUPRES, JEFFREY J. MEFFERT

    Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

    POEMs and Tips

    Memantine of Some Benefit in Alzheimer's Disease

    Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers and Type 2 Diabetes

    E-Mail Counseling Program Improves Weight Loss

    Best Treatment for de Quervain's Tenosynovitis Uncertain

    Relation of Erectile Dysfunction to CAD

    Imaging Studies in Young Children Following UTI

    Depression and Its Impact on Perimenopause

    Inappropriate Use of Spironolactone in Heart Failure

    Suspect Closed Head Injury in Hypotensive Injured Children

    Prophylaxis for Infants of Mothers with Hepatitis B

    Prescribing Contraceptives for Women over 35 Years of Age

    Evaluation of Bone Mass in Young Female Athletes

    Lower Serum Digoxin Levels May Improve Mortality

    Are DARE and DARE Plus Effective Prevention Programs?

    Practice Guidelines

    ACIP Issues Guidelines on the Use of Smallpox Vaccine in a Pre-Event Vaccination Program

    Barrett M. Schroeder

    Recommendations for the use of smallpox vaccine in a pre-event vaccination program are now available from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC), and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Carrie Morantz, Brian Torrey

    Guidelines on Exertional Heat Illnesses | CDC Awareness Campaign on Healthy Swimming

    Curbside Consultation

    A Shoe-in for Malpractice

    RICHARD G. ROBERTS

    The questions being asked in this case scenario can be consolidated into one, “Should I continue as this patient's physician?” An attorney's typical answer to such a query is often a cautious “It depends.” In this case, a more definite answer is appropriate: “No.”

    Letters to the Editor

    Preventing Hip Fractures in Older Patients with Fall Risk

    GARY N. FOX

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Preventing Malaria When You Travel

    Malaria is a serious disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Malaria occurs in the warmer regions of the world. Large areas of Central and South America, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East are risk areas...



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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