March 15, 2010

A rapid and accurate diagnosis in a patient with a generalized rash is often important, especially when mortality or significant morbidity can occur if the diagnosis is missed. When a diagnosis is not immediately apparent, an inclusive differential diagnosis must be considered.

When the diagnosis of a generalized rash is not obvious, physicians should look for clues from the patient history, physical examination, and laboratory findings.

Infants, children, and adolescents require a minimum of 400 IU of vitamin D per day to prevent adverse effects, such as growth failure and rickets. Vitamin D supplementation is recommended for infants who are breastfed, and for children and adolescents who do not drink at least…

An estimated 310,000 U.S. children younger than five years have elevated blood lead levels. This article describes common sources of lead exposure, how to determine which children are at risk, diagnosis and management of elevated blood lead levels, and preventive strategies.

Journal Retracts Study Linking Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine to Autism | Merck's PedvaxHIB Vaccine Available for First Time Since Its December 2007 Recall | Michelle Obama Launches Campaign to Help Overcome Childhood Obesity | California to Implement Physician Access…

In this issue of American Family Physician, Drs. Casey, Slawson, and Neal review recent recommendations on vitamin D supplementation.1 The authors focus on guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that recommend increasing the minimum daily intake of vitamin D…

Family medicine is the predominant provider of primary health care in the United States, yet it receives relatively little research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Family medicine can help the NIH speed research discovery and improve research relevance…

Should we stop using beta blockers to prevent myocardial infarction in persons undergoing noncardiac surgery? The data remain inconclusive. Although the POISE study is an important contribution to the literature, it uses a protocol that is unrealistic and should not change…

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends high-intensity behavioral counseling to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for all sexually active adolescents and for adults at increased risk of STIs.

Case study: A.B. is a 16-year-old girl who comes to your office for a sports physical examination. She tells you that since seeing you last year, she has become sexually active with a boy at her school.

What are the effects of surgical and nonsurgical treatments for women with stress incontinence?

When considering anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism (VTE), physicians and patients must balance the benefits of anticoagulation with the risk of bleeding, particularly major bleeding complications. For example, in patients who…

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

The American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) updated guideline addresses: (1) the use of tamoxifen, raloxifene (Evista), aromatase inhibitors, and fenretinide (not available in the United States) versus no pharmacologic intervention to reduce the risk of breast cancer; (2…

Vitamin D helps protect your bones and helps your body use calcium. You can get vitamin D from sunlight or by eating certain foods. Fish, cheese, and eggs are natural sources of vitamin D. In the United States, cereals, milk, and many orange juices have vitamin D added to them.

Lead poisoning is when there are high levels of lead in your child's blood. High levels of lead in the body can cause problems with the brain, intestines, kidneys, and bone marrow.