August 15, 2003

West Nile virus likely will continue to advance throughout the western United States within the next few years. A range of clinical syndromes is possible, including fever, meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid paralysis.

As the delivery of health care to patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection shifts from the inpatient to the outpatient arena, family physicians will be confronted with such issues as side effects of antiretroviral drugs, adherence to treatment regimens, and drug…

Polycystic ovary syndrome, which affects women from adolescence through menopause, can cause long-term effects such as infertility, diabetes, and heart disease. Treatment options include hormones, insulin-sensitizing agents, weight loss, and exercise.

The causes of Crohn's disease are thought to be environmental, genetic, dietary, infectious, or immunologic, although treatment guidelines are determined by the severity of disease.

Lately we've been doing a lot of housekeeping at the publishing offices of AFP. Although the editorial and production staffs spend most of their time creating the pages of AFP, sometimes duty calls, and we have to stop for other things. I'm not talking about the breaks we take…

Family physicians (FPs) provided 30 percent of inpatient newborn care in Maine in the year 2000. FPs cared for a large proportion of newborns, especially those insured by Medicaid and in smaller, rural hospitals where FPs also delivered babies. Family medicine's commitment to…

AAFP and ABFP Collaborate to Ease Transition to New Certification System | Project to Study Implementation of An Electronic Health Records System | HHS Releases Fact Sheet on Patient Safety Task Force | AHRQ Releases Women's Health Brochure for Screening Tests and Staying…

Impatience and a feeling of time urgency may increase young persons' risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, according to a study presented at the scientific sessions of the American Heart Association and reported in Internal Medicine News. Of 3,142 persons 18 to…

Observational studies and clinical trials have shown that estrogen use can attenuate bone loss and reduce fracture risk in postmenopausal women. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) supports findings from previous studies of estrogen and osteoporosis.1 In this large, population…

“The medication does help, and his schoolwork has improved,” explained the first grader's mother. “But, after three or four hours it wears off, and he is even worse than before.” TA had been this child's physician since he was a newborn. The parents had been reluctant to…

A 10- to 14-day course of oral corticosteroids, wrist splints, ultrasonography, yoga, and carpal bone mobilization provide short-term benefit. Ergonomic keyboards, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), exercise, neurodynamic mobilization…

A clinical policy focusing on critical issues in the evaluation and management of patients with signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism (PE) has been released by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Selecting Toys for Young Children | ACOG Recommendations on Preterm Labor | FDA Advisory

Infection from West Nile virus has occurred in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Now the virus has spread to the United States, where it has been reported in 44 states and Washington, D.C.

Combinations of medicines that are used to fight human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, for short) are called ART. This stands for antiretroviral therapy (say: “an-tee-ret-ro-vi-rull”). If you have HIV, ART will not cure you, but it can help you fight off infections and live a…

Crohn's disease causes ulcers to form in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus. Symptoms include stomach cramps and pain that comes and goes, diarrhea, and blood in your stool. Other symptoms include weight loss, nausea, joint pain, and feeling…