December 1, 2004

Early childhood caries may develop as soon as teeth erupt. Promoting appropriate use of topical and systemic fluoride, and providing early oral hygiene instruction and regular dietary counseling to limit the frequency of sugar consumption can help reduce dental caries in young…

Vaginitis most often is associated with infection or atrophic changes. Common infectious forms of vaginitis include bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis.

In patients with suspected heart failure, the initial evaluation includes a focused history and physical examination, a chest radiograph, and an electrocardiogram. The presence of heart failure can be confirmed by an echocardiogram.

Outpatient treatment of systolic heart failure involves three goals that should be pursued simultaneously: controlling risk factors for the development and progressionof heart failure, treating heart failure, and educating patients.

Cranberry appears to be a safe, tolerable, and effective supplement for urinary tract infection prophylaxis.

December marks my 20th anniversary of employment at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and most of my time here has been spent with American Family Physician. Such an anniversary milestone leaves one marveling at the passage of time and naturally asking: Why have…

Physicians with Heart Delivers Medical Aid to the Republic of Georgia | AAFP Names David Satcher, M.D., as John G. Walsh Award Recipient | AAFP’s Consumer Health Publication Wins Award | AAFP Asks ABFP to Modify Maintenance of Certification Program | FDA Issues Advisory that…

Can you improve your vision while you sleep? According to a report published in The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved contact lenses to be worn during sleep to temporarily correct myopia. The idea is known as orthokeratology; the lenses…

In this issue of American Family Physician, Douglass and associates1 provide sound and useful information to address the epidemic of early childhood caries. The authors point out that among low-income preschoolers in the United States, about one in three has dental caries. The…

When someone tries to contact a physician by voice mail, pager, and cell phone at 8 a.m. on the first day of the week, one has the feeling that an urgent message is being conveyed. JOH took the call from a radiologist while driving to work. Thomas was a patient who was seen for…

Tegaserod offers modest improvement in global gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in women with constipation-predominant IBS, without having significant effect on symptoms of abdominal pain and discomfort.

Calcium and Prevention of Colorectal Cancer | Link Between Metformin and Lactic Acidosis?

What are the effects of initial treatments in adults? What are the best forms of maintenance treatment in adults? What are the effects of treatments in adults who have not responded to initial treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors?

This statement summarizes the current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for suicide risk and the supporting scientific evidence, and it updates the 1996 recommendations contained in the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2d ed.

Case study: SJ is a 17-year-old boy brought in by his mother for a pre-college physical. His mother pulls you aside and shares a story from the local newspaper about a college freshman who committed suicide after the first week of school. She is anxious because of SJ’s history…

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered first-line agents for the treatment of depression in pregnant women. SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are considered safe and effective in pregnant women, although some studies have indicated increased…

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

Post-term pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy that has extended to or beyond 42 weeks of gestation. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently issued guidelines for the clinical management of post-term pregnancy.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new report entitled, “Pharmacological and Surgical Treatment of Obesity.”

Every baby is different, but teeth normally start appearing when a baby is about six months old, although your baby may be drooling more at four months. When teeth start to come in, they can cause pain and fussiness.

Vaginitis (say: vaj-en-eye-tis) is an irritation of the vagina. If a woman has vaginitis, she may have a bad-smelling fluid coming out of her vagina. She also may have itching or burning in her vagina and genital area.

Heart failure happens when your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs and causes poor blood flow. Poor blood flow has a bad effect on many of your body’s organs, such as your brain, lungs, and kidneys.

The article “Insulin Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: Rescue, Augmentation, and Replacement of Beta-Cell Function” (August 1, 2004, page 489) incorrectly gave the unit of measurement for insulin as milligrams rather than as units. In the abstract on page 489, the ninth sentence…