January 1, 2005

Family physicians play a valuable role in the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis. However, the overall diagnostic accuracy achieved by traditional history and physicalexamination is only about 80 percent. Imaging techniques such as ultrasonographyand computed tomography can…

Procedural sedation and analgesia should be performed only by health care professionalswho are skilled in managing possible complications, including cardiorespiratorycompromise. Common agents such as etomidate, ketamine, fentanyl, and midazolam are easy to use and predictable…

Parous women in stable, mutually monogamous relationships who seek contraceptionare ideal candidates for the intrauterine device (IUD). Two IUDs are available: a copper-releasing device and a hormone-releasing device. Family physicians should counsel their patients about which…

Serum protein electrophoresis is used to identify patients with multiple myeloma and other disorders of serum protein. Monoclonal gammopathies are associated with a clonal process that is malignant or potentially malignant, whereas polyclonal gammopathies may be caused by any…

If you are a user of AFP’s Web site, you will be delighted to know that we’ve installed a few new features designed to help you find the answers to your clinical questions faster than before. The result of a yearlong effort by our programmers and editors, the improvements are…

NIH Awards $3 Million Grant to Develop Electronic Network of Family Physicians | CDC Releases Report on Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates | NIAAA Announces New Alcohol Prevention Web Site | COLA Launches Updated and Redesigned Web Site | AAFP Offers Free Web Site Program…

Women who use tattooing and other permanent forms of makeup to replace mascara or lipstick may risk health problems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers to the possibility of adverse events caused by permanent makeup. As reported in FDA Consumer…

Most family physicians would agree that there has been a professional lethargy in our specialty over the past decade, compounded by a broken, inefficient national health care system. The issues behind this problem are complex and intertwined: the decline of professional…

An immense gap exists between what American families know about health and what they need to know. Chronic diseases currently account for seven out of 10 deaths in the United States. Although all of these diseases have hereditary factors, most can be prevented with relatively…

“Stupid!” Mr. Solomon uttered as I entered the exam room. It turned out that the 72-year-old man’s interjection was directed toward himself and not me. He was clutching the right side of his rib cage with one hand. Two weeks earlier, Mr. Solomon had tripped over a tree limb…

Compared with placebo, treatment with glucocorticoids results in reduced symptoms, less need for treatment with racemic epinephrine, fewer readmissions to emergency departments, and shorter hospital stays.

Antidepressants and Smoking Cessation

Hormonal Contraceptives and Weight Gain

What are the effects of treatments for uncomplicated neck pain without severe neurologic deficit? What are the effects of treatments for acute and chronic whiplash injury? What are the effects of treatments for neck pain with radiculopathy?

Most children with gastroenteritis do not require intravenous fluids and will respond favorably to ORT. Intravenous fluids do not shorten the duration of gastroenteritis and are more likely to cause adverse effects than ORT.

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

The 2005 Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule (see accompanying charts), which is approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), is…

Definition of Metabolic Syndrome

CDC Report on Asthma

DVDs on Childhood Overweight and Obesity

This physician is trying to balance his duty to the patient and the legally appointed guardian and finds it difficult to know how to approach the patient. The physician is particularly puzzled because of his “near-normal” interactions with her. This commentary will discuss the…

Letter

Kidneys remove waste products from your blood. They do this by filtering the blood and making urine. The waste products are removed in the urine.

Most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria (germs). Any part of your urinary tract can be infected. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Bladder infections are the most common.

“Microscopic” means something is so small that it can be seen only through a microscope. “Hematuria” (say “he-mah-tur-ee-ah) means blood in the urine.

Kidneys remove waste products from your blood. They do this by filtering the blood and making urine. The urine carries waste products out of your body.