May 15, 2008

The initial evaluation of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia assesses the frequency and severity of symptoms. Watchful waiting with annual reassessment is appropriate for mild symptoms; however, if the symptoms are bothersome, numerous medical and surgical interventions have…

Dermatophytes are major causes of superficial fungal infections in children. A diagnosis usually can bemade with a focused history, physical examination, and potassium hydroxide microscopy; most dermatophyte infections can be managed with topical therapies.

Headache is the most common symptom of a brain tumor, although it is typically accompanied by other symptoms. Tumors can be identified using brain imaging, nd the diagnosis is confirmed with histopathology. Primary care physicians play an important role in the perioperative and…

The most prevalent etiologies of vision loss in persons 40 years and older are agerelated macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. In addition to treating vision loss and comorbid medical issues, physicians must be aware of the physical limitations…

Reader feedback is important to guide us toward publishing the information AFP readers want and need. There are two easy ways to send your comments to us. The first issue of each month includes a comment card to mail in, or you can simply send an e-mail to afpedit@aafp.org…

New Legislation Addresses Disparities in Urban versus Rural Physician Payments | MedPAC Endorses Altering Medicare Systems to Promote Primary Care Services | Physicians Meet to Reflect on the Results of the National Demonstration Project | E-mail Health Care Notification…

In this issue of American Family Physician, Dr. Edwards presents an excellent overview of the management options for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).1 Family physicians commonly counsel patients on surgical options when symptoms do not resolve with medical therapy. Clearly…

Most Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) exceed federal population-to-physician designation criteria, yet struggle to maintain access to primary care physicians. Policy options for recruiting and retaining primary care physicians to HPSAs, and new HPSA…

The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

What are the effects of treatments to prevent fractures in postmenopausal women?

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

Early use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) markedly reduces inflammation and joint destruction associated with RA.1,2 Therefore, with early diagnosis of RA and appropriate use of DMARDs, there is a window of opportunity to change the clinical course of this…

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released guidelines on evaluating suspected child physical abuse. The role of the physician includes preventing child abuse and detecting and treating victims of child physical abuse when it occurs.

A subcommittee of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has released a policy regarding indications for N-acetylcysteine in patients with acetaminophen overdose who can be risk stratified by the Rumack-Matthew nomogram, and for those who cannot.

Benign (say: bih-nine) prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, causes your prostate gland to get bigger. The prostate gland makes semen.

The term “low vision” includes people who are legally blind and people who are not legally blind, but who cannot see well enough to function on their own. People who are legally blind have vision worse than 20/200. This means that they see objects that are 20 feet away as…