May 1, 2008

Careful monitoring of newborns is important in the prevention and treatment of neonatal jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia. Predischarge bilirubin measurement is used to assess risk of an infant developing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the first few days of life.

The initial assessment of children who stutter focuses on severity, secondary behaviors, and the impact of stuttering on the patient. Although stuttering usually spontaneously resolves by adulthood, treatment can prevent it from progressing and can help the patient overcome…

Most patients with hypertension will require therapy with more than one agent. Treatment recommendations vary for patients with comorbid conditions.

Trigeminal neuralgia is typically diagnosed clinically. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is important because the pain can be severe. Initial treatment ismedical, but surgery may be indicated when medication is unsuccessful.

In the April 15 issue, I introduced our two new assistant editors—John E. Delzell, Jr., MD, MSPH, and Colin P. Kopes-Kerr, MD, MPH, JD. As part of the AFP medical editing team, these two experienced family physicians will work with Editor Jay Siwek, MD, to review manuscripts…

Physicians Participate in Capitol Hill Rally to Support Medicare Payment Reform | Bill Aimed at Lowering Health Insurance Costs for Small Businesses, Self-Employed | New Medication Management Standards Proposed for Emergency Departments | Reports Reflect Modest Gain in Health…

For children with acute asthma exacerbations, is levalbuterol better than albuterol? There is no difference between the medications in effectiveness or side effects.

The AFP Authors' Guide says that we do not consider articles written by medical or other students, and that we ask that any resident wishing to write for us team up with an experienced physician who will serve as first and corresponding author. Because this policy occasionally…

Compared with antiplatelet therapy, oral anticoagulation significantly reduces stroke at an average follow-up of one to three years, but does not reduce mortality. Intracranial or extracranial hemorrhage is more common with anticoagulation and must be weighed against its…

SSRIs are effective for the treatment of OCD. If it is assumed that 10 percent of persons with OCD will recover without treatment, then 12 persons with OCD need to be treated for one additional person to have a response within six to 13 weeks. If it is assumed that 20 percent…

This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for sickle cell disease in newborns and the supporting scientific evidence; it also updates the 1996 recommendations contained in the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services…

The most common tremor in primary care is an exaggerated physiologic tremor, followed by essential tremor and tremors caused by Parkinson's disease.

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

First, it is important to define what is meant by “placebo”. Strictly, the term placebo, taken from the Latin “I shall please,” refers to any intervention, event, or experience that evokes positive subjective or objective outcomes in a patient (or research participant).

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has created guidelines for the management of adnexal masses.

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Stuttering is a speech problem that makes it hard to say certain words or sounds. People who stutter may repeat sounds, words, or parts of words. They may also pause longer than normal between sounds and words. They may blink their eyes, jerk their jaw, or move their head when…

Blood pressure is the pressure in your blood vessels. It is measured during certain parts of your heartbeat. This measurement has two numbers. The systolic (siss-TALL-ick) number is on the top and the diastolic (DIE-eh-stall-ick) number is on the bottom. If your blood pressure…