August 1, 2005

The three-generation pedigree is the most efficient way to assess hereditary influences on disease. It can help family physicians identify relatively rare conditions that may not be considered in a differential diagnosis, which allows for earlier diagnosis and more aggressive…

Although the incidence of urinary tract infections has not changed significantly over the last decade, the diagnostic criteria, bacterial resistance patterns, and treatment recommendations have evolved.

Health literacy is defined as basic reading and numeric skills that allow a person to function in the health care environment. Even though most adults read at an eighth-grade level and 20 percent of the population reads at or below a fifth-grade level, most health care…

Child safety seats and automobile safety belts protect children in a crash if they are used correctly, but if a child does not fit in the restraint correctly, it can lead to injury. Family physicians caring for children should know what safety seats are available and which…

The Academy’s Annual Clinical Focus (ACF) offers AAFP members state-of-the-art clinical information on a single topic of major importance. The goal of ACF is to provide the tools family physicians need to provide comprehensive patient care in today’s environment of fast-paced…

Senate Subcommittee Votes to Increase Funds for Medical Schools | Bill Would Help Physicians Buy or Upgrade EHR Technology | Smoking Costs U.S. $92 Billion Per Year in Lost Productivity | Senate Leader Seeks Restrictions on Drug Advertisements | Health Insurance Coverage for…

According to a recent study, maintaining a healthy weight while kicking the smoking habit helps former smokers regain the best possible lung function. Results of the study, published in The Lancet, indicated that weight gain might reduce the beneficial effects of smoking…

Historically, underserved minority populations have been the last to benefit from medical advances. Innovations from the Human Genome Project offer an opportunity to reduce health disparities by using targeted preventive programs and improving physicians’ awareness of common…

Up to 40 percent of American adults have fair to poor literacy skills, which can make it difficult for them to function proficiently in the health care system.1 Studies have shown that patients with inadequate literacy have less health-related knowledge, receive less preventive…

Graduates of U.S. allopathic schools have filled less than one half of the family medicine positions offered in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match since 2001. Overall fill rates in July have been relatively stable at approximately 94 percent. Family medicine…

Estella, a middle-aged Hispanic patient, visited the mobile clinic for exudative tonsillitis four days ago. The result of her rapid strep test was positive, but her type I allergy to penicillin precluded the use of a beta-lactam antimicrobial for treatment. I was left with…

Short-term trials indicate that cancer pain can be reduced with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as initial monotherapy. NSAIDs combined with opioids can result in slight short-term improvement in pain compared with either agent alone. Long-term efficacy…

Systemic corticosteroids improve symptoms of acute COPD exacerbations at three days and reduce the likelihood of treatment failure. There is no evidence that they reduce mortality or prevent recurrence at 30 days, but the existing studies may be too small to detect such a…

What are the effects of treatments for chronic bacterial and abacterial prostatitis?

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

What is the best medical therapy for early Parkinson’s disease?

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has released new eligibility guidelines for competitive athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities and clinical guidelines for preparticipation screening.

A practice bulletin on fetal heart rate monitoring was recently released by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Practice Bulletins–Obstetrics.

Updated recommendations on the management of meningococcal disease are available from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bladder infection caused by germs. If you have a UTI, it may hurt to go to the bathroom and you may have to go more than usual. Bladder infections are found most often in young women. Sex can make it easier for germs to get into the bladder…

All children younger than 12 years should ride in the back seat of the car. This is safer if there is a crash. If your child is not big enough to fit into a safety belt, he or she should use a child safety seat or a booster seat. You will need to change the seat as your child…