November 1, 2010

Nongenital infections caused by herpes simplex virus often can be diagnosed by patient history and clinical presentation of lesions. Oral treatment with acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir is more effective than topical treatments.

The 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus is expected to continue to circulate during the 2010–2011 season. The diagnosis of influenza should be made clinically, and the decision to begin antiviral therapy should not be delayed for laboratory confirmation of influenza…

Acute mountain sickness is the most common presentation of altitude illness. It will usually resolve within three days but may progress to high-altitude cerebral edema. Descent is mandatory for all persons with high-altitude cerebral or pulmonary edema.

Microcytosis is often discovered incidentally with a complete blood count performed for other reasons. The cause of microcytosis can usually be determined with appropriate history and laboratory testing. Because the condition is usually asymptomatic, physical examination…

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Last year, the new strain of influenza we now know as 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) hit the United States and worldwide. Vaccine makers scrambled to manufacture adequate supplies; however, a temporary lack of sufficient vaccines required prioritization among patient groups…

When treating hyperlipidemia, physicians often face the question of the clinical value of nonstatin drugs, including bile acid sequestrants, fibrates (fibric acid derivatives), niacin, and cholesterol-absorption inhibitors. This editorial highlights the most prominent trial…

Only statins have patient-oriented evidence supporting their role in reducing all-cause mortality. The NCEP–ATP III guidelines offer a nine-step approach for reaching target lipid levels, but the application to everyday practice is far simpler: If a patient with hyperlipidemia…

In patients without standard contraindications to metformin therapy, metformin does not increase the risk of lactic acidosis.

When treating a patient for epilepsy, there is not enough evidence to indicate if optimal seizure control is best obtained by routinely measuring medication levels compared with making adjustments based on the clinical picture.

This scenario raises several key questions that are important not only to patient care, but also to physicians' quality of life and satisfaction with practice. First, what are the critical roles for the family physician during prenatal care, labor, and birth?

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

Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) updated guidelines for the evaluation and management of driving risk in persons with dementia. The new evidence-based guidelines offer characteristics that can help to identify persons that are at risk of…

Cold sores usually show up on the lips or mouth as a cluster of blisters with a red base. They are also called “fever blisters.” They may be painful and feel itchy, dry, and crusty. If the blisters come back another time, they may cause a tingling feeling before they appear on…

Influenza, also called the flu, is a viral infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. It is often confused with other illnesses, especially the common cold. The flu is more severe than a cold, usually comes on suddenly, and is caused by a different virus. In 2009, a new strain…