December 1, 1998

The three most common causes of chronic cough in patients who are referred to pulmonary specialists are postnasal drip, asthma and gastroesophageal reflux. A protocol is provided to assist family physicians in the evaluation and treatment of chronic cough.

Family physicians often encounter international adoptees who have a wide range of medical problems not commonly seen in their U.S. counterparts.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disorder of unknown etiology that often presents with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary infiltration, and ocular and skin lesions. Sarcoidosis is characterized by abnormal laboratory findings, including hyperglobulinemia, an elevated…

Between 10 and 30 percent of patients with depression who are taking a single antidepressant agent are partially or totally resistant to treatment. Optimizing the dosage, lengthening the period of therapy or augmenting therapy with a second medication is often efficacious in…

Senile dementia of the Binswanger's type is a possible diagnosis when brain imaging of a patient with dementia reveals disease of the subcortical white matter.

The intrauterine device is an underutilized, reversible, cost-effective form of birth control that is safe and efficacious.

(Australia—Australian Family Physician, June 1998, p. 465.) Gastroesophageal reflux is common in infants and children and should be regarded as pathologic only when it results in symptoms or tissue damage. Prolonged exposure to gastric acid damages the esophagus through…

You may recall that with the January 1, 1998 issue, AFP introduced a new look. Throughout the past year, we've been gathering readers' thoughts about the new design and considering ways we could improve on it. Our research showed that the design changes were subtle enough that…

Do your patients need a doctor's note for morning sickness? Can they be fired without one? According to a ruling under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a doctor's note is not required to receive FMLA leave for morning sickness and, as the court pointed out, morning sickness…

The November elections resulted in four family physicians being chosen to serve in the U.S. Congress. Three family physician incumbents in the House were returned to their seats this election cycle. They are: Delegate Donna Christian-Green, M.D., (D-Virgin Islands); Rep. Tom…

Few experiences in medicine can be more professionally and personally rewarding than a child's first visit to your office. For some parents, however, the route to your practice may not be a traditional or typical one. Last year, over 13,000 children1 arrived in their physician…

As noted by Canavan in this issue of American Family Physician,1 the intrauterine device (IUD) remains a seldom-used method of contraception. Surveys of U.S. women have shown that IUDs have a poor reputation. However, the same surveys showed that women using IUDs have the…

“Dr. Walt,” expressed the grateful patient, “It actually worked!”“Do I detect a bit of disbelief in your voice?” asked WLL. “Well, not really,” came the rejoinder, “It's just so nice to find something so old-fashioned and so effective—and so inexpensive!” With a hug and a smile…

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

(50th Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians) The Seven-Minute Screen, a quickly administered neurocognitive screening battery for Alzheimer's disease, is an effective tool to use in identifying patients with probable Alzheimer's disease in a…

Both competent and incompetent patients have a legally protected right of autonomy. This right of autonomy includes the right to forgo medical treatment.

The U.S. Public Health Service has updated the guidelines for the management of occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among health care workers. The recommendations were published in the recommendations and reports series of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly…

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reports that the number of deaths related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) declined an unprecedented 47 percent from 1996 to 1997. The decrease in AIDS-related deaths from 1995 to 1996 was 29 percent. In addition…

Book Reviews | Also Received

The process of international adoption has three main parts: finding a child, getting custody of the child, and bringing the child to the United States. Your child must have a medical exam in the country he or she is from (the host country), in order to get a resident visa (an…

Sarcoidosis (say “sar-coy-doe-sis”) is a disease that may affect any organ or system in your body. If you have sarcoidosis, you may have no symptoms at all. Only small changes might show up on a chest x-ray, or you may have progressive failure of many organs in your body. The…

An intrauterine device, called an IUD for short, is a small, plastic, T-shaped stick with a string attached to the end. The IUD is placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Your doctor can place one in your uterus in an office visit. Once in place, the IUD stays in your…