December 15, 2015

The criteria for diagnosis are difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or early awakening despite the opportunity for sleep that leads to impaired daytime functioning. A sleep history can confirm the diagnosis. Comorbid and associated conditions should be…

Recently published guidelines provide important recommendations for health maintenance, acute care, and monitoring of disease-modifying therapy in persons with sickle cell disease. Children with sickle cell anemia should receive prophylactic penicillin from birth through at…

Identification of a solitary pulmonary nodule has become more common with the increased use of computed tomography. Nodules are typically assessed according to diameter and the probability of malignancy based on the patient's age, smoking and cancer history, and nodule location…

No Pay Raise for Physicians in 2016, but Shift to Value-Based Pay Continues | AAFP Joins Supreme Court Brief Supporting Diversity in Medical School Admissions | New Online Mapping Tool from CMS Details Prescribing Patterns for Opioids | Survey: Telehealth Increases Patients…

The influenza season is here. Accompanying it are the omnipresent influenza immunization programs in pharmacies, grocery stores, and of course, physicians' offices. Major points to note for this influenza season include changes in vaccination recommendations for children…

One in five Americans reports no usual source of health care, and the number of Americans reporting that they have a personal relationship with a usual source of care has declined steadily over the past 15 years. Given the positive association between having a usual source of…

An estimated 18,000 persons are trafficked into the United States for labor each year. They most commonly originate from Latin America (31%), Southeast Asia (26%), and South Asia (13%), and 71% of persons enter on lawful visas. Health care may be one of the few fields in which…

Timothy grass pollen allergen extract produces small improvements in allergic rhinitis symptoms and the use of allergy relief medications, with a high rate of adverse effects. It may, however, be an option for patients who desire an alternative to standard allergy symptom…

C.C., a 32-year-old white woman, presents to your office with her nine-month-old son for a routine well-child visit. She is preparing to switch him from breast milk to formula and had noted that most formulas contain iron. She wonders if her son should be screened for iron…

A male smoker with a history of alcohol abuse presented with a mildly pruritic rash on his back that spread to his scalp, trunk, and extremities, including the palms and soles.

Based on the best available evidence, the American College of Physicians (ACP) has released best practice advice on cervical cancer screening in average-risk, asymptomatic women 21 years or older. This advice is targeted to all clinicians, and refers to screening for cervical…

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for iron deficiency anemia in children ages 6 to 24 months.

Insomnia is when you have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep, even if you have the chance to get good sleep. Waking up early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep is also common with insomnia. You may not function well the next day because of a lack…

A lung nodule (NA-jule) is a small, ball-shaped mass that can grow in the lung. It can range in size from smaller than a pea to the size of a golf ball or larger. Your doctor can see it on a chest x-ray or CT scan. Most of the time, there are no symptoms.