August 1, 2001

Purpura can be the sign of a relatively benign condition or the manifestation of a serious underlying disorder. It may occur secondary to thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction, a coagulation deficiency or a vascular defect.

The abdominal wall is often overlooked as a source of pain. If a hernia or other structural disease is excluded, injection of a local anesthetic with or without a corticosteroid into the pain trigger point can be diagnostic and therapeutic.

The most common menstrual disorders in patients with anorexia, bulimia and obesity are amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea and irregular menses, respectively.

The V-Y plasty repair technique of fingertip amputations can be learned and applied easily in the family practice setting.

Tick-borne illnesses usually present with nonspecific symptoms and can be difficult to recognize. Although preventing tick bites is the best method for preventing these diseases, knowing the common presentation, diagnostic options and treatments available can help the physician…

AFP has long been known for clinical updates that provide diagnostic and treatment recommendations drawn from the best available evidence. Now AFP is planning to introduce a rating system that will identify the strength of evidence for key clinical recommendations contained in…

According to an item published in a recent issue of America's Pharmacist, the incidence of America ns who self-medicate is on the rise. Results of a study conducted for the Consumer Health Products Association indicate that nearly 80 percent of Americans used over-the-counter…

Secretary Thompson Announces Reorganization and Name Change for HCFA | NRC Urges Routine Childhood Screening for Autism | HHS Initiative Aims to Increase Access to Prescription Drugs | HRSA Grants Will Increase Number of Health Professionals in Needy Areas | Americans View AIDS…

Eating disorders are a complex group of illnesses that often are seen in the adolescent female population. During the past three decades, the prevalence of eating disorders has increased dramatically; currently, the overall incidence is approximately 5 percent.1,2 Although…

Today, JTL received a letter from a former intern, Susan Hawn, who he remembered from his days as a member of the family practice faculty. Dr. Hawn expressed how she has enjoyed every minute of solo practice in her hometown in rural Georgia. JTL hopes that there are medical…

Based on this review and the systematic reviews of Rosenfeld and Kozyrskyj, antibiotics appear to play a small but potentially useful role in the treatment of acute otitis media in children. Antibiotics produce a reduction in pain at two to seven days but have no effect on…

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

(Australia—Australian Family Physician, January 2001, p. 36.) Approximately 10 percent of men and 4 percent of women have renal calculi and 60 to 80 percent experience at least one recurrent episode. Peak incidence is between 20 and 50 years of age. The stone should always be…

Widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture, increased antibiotic use in children and excessive use of antibiotics in adults have caused an increase in antibiotic-resistant organisms in the past decade. To address this issue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC…

The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a scientific statement on the primary prevention of ischemic stroke. The scientific statement includes an overview of established and potential risk factors and recommendations.

Use of Helical CT for Lung Cancer Screening | FDA Approves Treatment With Botulinum Toxin Type A

Monday morning. A waiting room full of walk-in patients. A patient in pain who says, “Fix this now.” And a physician who wonders if he is going to have to leave clinical practice, defeated by the stress and the hassles. How many things can we find wrong in this everyday picture…

Letter

Tick-borne diseases are a group of illnesses that people get from tick bites. They occur in all areas of the United States and affect people of all ages. These diseases are more common in the spring and summer months when tick bites are more common. Some of the common tick…