November 1, 2002

Foot ulcers are significant and common complications of diabetes mellitus and can lead to hospitalization and lower-extremity amputation. Prompt and aggressive treatment of diabetic foot ulcers can often prevent exacerbation of the problem and the potential need for amputation.

Primary care physicians can accurately identify the condition, initiate treatment, and facilitate appropriate referrals for patients with the pervasive developmental disorder of autism.

Sick or premature neonates may be managed by family physicians in special care nurseries, where they can be closely monitored and clinically evaluated.

Pericarditis is most often caused by viral infection and generally resolves in a few weeks with no clinical sequelae. The condition must be distinguished from acute myocardial infarction, because the administration of thrombolytic medications can be fatal.

Sexual health care is important to the general health of patients and should be proactively addressed by primary care physicians.

Early detection and treatment of herpes zoster ophthalmicus can prevent potentially severe ocular complications and result in good visual outcomes.

To the editor: An 18-year-old woman presented to my office with severe left buttock pain radiating down her posterior thigh, and mild left lower quadrant pain. She had no nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, fever, or sweats. Her medical, family, and social history and review of…

Next month marks the fifth anniversary of my switch in roles to managing editor of AFP. I still think of this as a new role because the time has passed so quickly and I'm continually taking on different challenges. The best part about working for AFP is that the sky is the…

AAFP Web Site Provides AMA Health Plan Complaint Form | HHS Provides Greater Access to Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccinations | Minnesota Physician Chosen AAFP Family Physician of the Year | AHRQ Awards $300,000 Grant to AAFP Family Practice Research Network | AAFP's Walter H…

Smile, and take a deep breath. Study results presented at the 98th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society and published in Internal Medicine News show that persons with an optimistic outlook on life have better lung function than pessimists. The study…

As a mother of a moderately affected autistic child and family physician to a number of autistic children, I have found that autistic persons are as varied as fingerprints, and each child needs an individualized, multidisciplinary approach. Autism is a wide-spectrum, pervasive…

Once in a while, we all need a hug. Margaret, a 73-year-old woman, had developed the sudden onset of difficulty speaking. Everything she attempted to say came out garbled and fragmented. A noncontrast computed tomographic scan of the head was negative, but the following day a…

This review indicates that even in high-risk patients with bacterial conjunctivitis, there is only a small benefit of treatment with antibiotics. Furthermore, most cases (64 percent) resolve spontaneously, and complications are rare. Therefore, it is reasonable to avoid…

Is tonsillectomy effective in severe tonsillitis in children and adults?

Case study: ST is a 55-year-old man who you see regularly for hypertension and depression. He is overweight and sedentary, and his elder sister recently had a heart attack. He asks you whether he should take a daily aspirin, “just in case.”

A 63-year-old man complained of pain in his substernal and epigastric region for the past three weeks. The pain occurred after walking a great distance or after he ate, and it resolved with rest. He experienced no radiation of the pain, and no shortness of breath, nausea, or…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published the 2002 guidelines for treating sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Information on diseases characterized by vaginal discharge, as well as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is included.

Updated Post-Event Smallpox Response Plan and Guidelines | Obstetric Management of Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries | AAP Report on Maltreatment of Children | NCI Call for Lung Cancer Study Participants | IOM Report on Diet and Chronic Disease Prevention | NIDA Drug Abuse…

Conjunctivitis (say: “con-junk-tiv-eye-tis”) is an inflammation in a part of your eye. The conjunctiva is a thin lining that covers the whites of the eyes and the insides of the eyelids. This lining helps protect your eyes. The conjunctiva can be irritated by chemicals, contact…

Autism is a brain disorder that causes poor development of language and social skills. People with autism may also have mental retardation, seizures, or mental disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety). About one third will be able to achieve some degree of independent living as…

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), commonly known as shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus. It involves the skin around the eye and sometimes the eye itself. It is not the same virus that causes herpes simplex.

Check the box below that best describes how you feel about giving up smoking:

It seems hard to stop smoking because smoking causes changes in your body and in the way you act. The changes in your body are caused by an addiction to nicotine. The changes in the way you act have developed over time as you have bought cigarettes, lit them, and smoked them…

Cigarettes are the leading cause of preventable death in this country. Tobacco is toxic to your body. The nicotine in tobacco makes your body release adrenaline. Adrenaline causes your blood vessels to constrict and your heart to beat faster, which raises your blood pressure…