March 15, 2007

The use of primary health care services increases for 12 or more months following a major disaster. It is important for physicians to understand individual and environmental risk factors that influence post-disaster health, as well as educate themselves regarding disaster…

Major causes of infertility include male factors, ovarian dysfunction, tubal disease, endometriosis, and uterine or cervical factors. To successfully treat infertility, physicians must first determine the cause in the individual patient.

Although impetigo usually heals spontaneously without scarring, treatment can relieve the discomfort, improve cosmetic appearance, and help prevent the spread of this highly contagious condition.

Although most spider bites are harmless, some spiders produce toxic venom that can cause skin lesions, systemic illnesses, and neurotoxicity. Some of the more common venomous bites are inflicted by widow and recluse spiders. Early species identification and specific management…

Although risk factors have been identified, postpartum hemorrhage may occur in women with no risk factors, so physicians must be prepared to manage this condition at every delivery. A methodical examination is required to diagnose and manage the specific cause.

The peer review system used for AFP manuscripts helps ensure that the published content is of the highest standards. Manuscripts submitted to AFP go through this process before it's decided whether they will be accepted for publication. Manuscripts are initially reviewed by Jay…

Title VII Funds Increase in 2007 Continuing Appropriations Resolution | Medicaid Enrollment Numbers Fall After Introduction of New Rule | AAFP Responds to HPV Vaccination Requirement for School Entry | Initiative Promises Innovation, Creativity in Residency Education | Survey…

Drinking a glass of milk and eating a slice of toast with honey or syrup may combat that St. Patrick's Day hangover. Acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical the body produces from ingested alcohol, induces hangover symptoms such as nausea and headaches. Therefore, undoing the chemistry…

Controlled substances are potentially beneficial medications, but they also have the capacity to produce euphoria. Some regular users lose control over their use, escalate the dosage, and become addicted.1 Misuse of prescription narcotics commonly occurs in the United States…

Accurate estimates of patient risk or prognosis can be helpful to a primary care physician.

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

Recommendations from the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) discuss aspects and treatment of Parkinson's disease. This condition is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by bradykinesia; tremor at rest…

Recommendations for administration of a live, oral, human-bovine reassortant rotavirus vaccine (Rotateq) has been released by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Rotavirus is a common cause of severe gastroenteritis in children and infants, and rotavirus…

CDC Reports on Vaccination Coverage of Children Entering School

ACOG Releases Opinion on Inducing Labor for VBAC

It is when a couple has tried to get pregnant for at least a year without being able to. About 10 or 15 out of every 100 couples have trouble getting pregnant within one year.

Impetigo (im-puh-TY-go) is a skin infection caused by bacteria. It is a rash that starts as a small red spot or bump and turns into a blister. The blisters break easily and leave a honey-colored crust. Sometimes the blisters get very large. They usually are on the face or arms…

The article “Using Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin to Treat Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C” (August 15, 2005, page655) contained several errors in Figure 2 on page 661. First, in the middle column, the text should have read as follows: “Viral load low but still detectable…