June 15, 2006

Older persons usually develop a symptomatic infection with abrupt onset, fever, and jaundice lasting two months, whereas infection in children usually is asymptomatic. New guidelines call for routine immunization of all children at one year of age. Vaccination for older…

Successful medical care of persons with mental retardation should involve continuity of care, routine periodic health screening, and an understanding of the unique medical and behavioral disorders that often occur in this population. Some commonly overlooked health concerns…

Despite improvements in the detection of premalignant pathology, newer preventive strategies, and the development of more effective combination therapies, the overall incidence of esophageal cancer is rising. The role of the family physician is paramount in the early diagnosis…

Although surgical management of hip fracture is usually indicated within 24 to 48 hours after hospitalization, family physicians play a key role in assisting patients during treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation. Physicians also can help patients prevent future fractures by…

As immunization against hepatitis A virus enters its second decade, public health experts are intensifying their efforts to ensure that all children are vaccinated. In October 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices…

Panel Advocates Changes in FDA Regulation of Dietary Supplements | Health Information Community Delivers First Recommendations | Medical Liability Reform Bill Fails to Reach Senate Floor | CDC Initiative Seeks to Reduce Youth Dating Violence | Trial Assesses Method to…

Could there be a “cure” for debilitating phobias? According to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the stress hormone cortisol may help people deal with fear and anxiety. Forty people with social phobia and 20 with spider phobia were…

By all outward appearances Jackson (not his real name) was a healthy 14-month-old infant. Recently adopted from abroad—one of more than 22,000 children adopted internationally in 20041—he was robust, and his initial medical examination was entirely normal. Routine laboratory…

Stem cell research and therapy, which are fraught with scientific and ethical controversy,1 may seem irrelevant to many practicing family physicians. However, it has been estimated that more than 100 million Americans have conditions that eventually may be treated by stem cells…

Minor head injury is commonly seen in the primary care and emergency department settings. Minor head injury typically includes brief loss of consciousness or other symptoms of concussion. Several clinical decision rules have been developed and validated to help identify…

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

Exenatide is an injectable treatment for type 2 diabetes. Its use requires patient education and strict monitoring of glucose levels because of the difficulty of its administration; therefore, it may not be a safe or practical option for patients who are not willing or able to…

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has released updated recommendations on the prevention of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection through immunization; the report also includes new epidemiologic data and results of economic analyses of nationwide routine…

A committee of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released a report on compounded bioidentical hormones. These agents are controversial because of concerns related to quality, purity, potency, and effectiveness.

Few Americans with Diabetes Receive Multiple Preventive-Care Services

Failure to thrive in infants and children may develop as a result of neglect, and in its extreme form it may result in death. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published a clinical report guiding the assessment, management, and support of children with failure to…

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus. Children with the disease may not have any symptoms. Most adults with the disease are ill for up to eight weeks and miss about 30 days of work.

People with mental retardation should see their doctors and dentists regularly. You should ask each doctor how often the person you care for needs to visit and for what reasons. Be sure that someone who knows the patient and why he or she is seeing the doctor goes along at each…

A hip fracture is a break in the bones of your hip (near the top of your leg).