September 1, 2004

Early identification and treatment of chronic disease can prevent or delay some adverse outcomes. It is important to identify patients who are at risk for developing chronic kidney disease.

A high index of suspicion of scaphoid fracture and a thorough history and physical examination are necessary because the fracture may not be visible on early imaging. Snuffbox tenderness is highly sensitive for fracture; scaphoid compression pain and tenderness of the scaphoid…

Despite updated evidence-based guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, diagnosing and classifying patients with asthma remain challenging. Written action plans for patients are recommended, and monitoring of peak expiratory flow may offer further…

The cause of community-acquired pneumonia in infants and children is often difficult to determine. Laboratory tests are seldom helpful, especially in outpatients. The age of the child and the findings of the history and physical examination are the best information for…

AFP’s editors will be standing by to meet with you at the upcoming Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). This year’s assembly, which will be held in conjunction with the 17th World Conference of Family Doctors, is scheduled for October…

HHS Announces New Policy on Medicare Coverage for Obesity | NCHC Issues Report About Health Coverage for All Americans | HHS Releases Report at Summit on Health Information Technology | NIH Issues New Blood Pressure Guide for Children and Adolescents | CDC Reports That…

There are two new Web sites from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As reported in FDA Consumer, FDA Heart Health Online (www.fda.gov/hearthealth) lists information on products for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease. Drugs@FDA (www.accessdata…

Evidenced-based guidelines are still subjective. That statement summarizes the rather frightening conclusion I made after my first involvement in a large-scale effort to engage in literature review, synthesis, and preparation of evidenced-based guidelines as part of the Kidney…

As part of a multiphase project under contract with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and a topic nomination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted a systematic review of the literature on interventions in patients with newly…

“My elbow is giving me fits,” Wes proclaimed. “It’s gotten so bad in the last couple of weeks that it hurts just to lift a half gallon of milk out of the fridge.” The middle-aged man was a meat cutter who loved to golf. Wes’s right lateral epicondyle was very tender, and wrist…

There is good evidence that the addition of home long-term continuous oxygen therapy for COPD increases survival rates in patients with severe hypoxemia (i.e., O2 saturation of less than 90 percent or partial pressure of arterial oxygen [PaO2] of less than 8 kPa per 60 mm Hg…

Effect of Exercise Intensity on Osteoarthritis

Intensive Management of Gestational Diabetes

What are the effects of interventions to prevent transmission and which reduce the impact of recurrence? What are the effects of treatments in people with a first episode of genital herpes? What are the effects of treatments in people with genital herpes and HIV infection?

Anticoagulation therapy with warfarin is not indicated for use in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who are at low risk for embolic cerebral vascular events. The classification of “low risk for embolic stroke” is defined as a 1 percent annual risk for stroke or…

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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new recommendations for diagnosing, managing, and reporting foodborne illnesses, in collaboration with the American Medical Association (AMA), American Nurses Association-American Nurse Foundation (ANA-ANF), the U…

Neuroimaging Tests for Cerebral Palsy

Update on Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Shortage

Diabetes causes the amount of sugar in your blood to be higher than normal. Over time, this can damage the nerves, arteries, and veins in your body. Nerve damage may cause burning pain or numbness in some part of your body. Damage to the arteries and veins means that your feet…

When a toenail is ingrown, the sides or corners of the nail curl under and dig into the skin at the side of the toe. This causes swelling, pain, and redness.

A fingernail or toenail infection that is caused by a fungus is called onychomycosis (say: “on-ee-ko-my-ko-sis”). Toenails are more likely than fingernails to become infected. This infection can make your nails thick and discolored.